Bryce Harper blames FanDuel for Cameo controversy after reading sportsbook’s name on camera

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper struggles to explain his role in Major League Baseball’s latest sports betting controversy.

Harper finally broke his silence in November 2024 over a controversial Cameo video he recorded for gambler Terry Thompson.

Harper said he believes he recorded a holiday greeting.

Instead, the message came amid a lawsuit from FanDuel that allegedly targeted Thompson, who bet $18.5 million on sports betting sites and lost more than $1.5 million on the platform alone.

Thompson’s lawsuit against FanDuel and several other defendants has now dragged Harper into the middle of the controversy.

BRYCE HARPER’S VIDEO ON LOSING GAMBLER STRENGTHENS THE SENSE OF MLB, SPORTSBOOKS AND THE UNION, FANDUEL

Facing intense public scrutiny, Harper released a statement on her Instagram Stories and attempted to distance herself from FanDuel.

“I joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos,” Harper wrote. “What happened here went beyond anything I knew or approved of.”

VIDEO OF BRYCE HARPER’S FANDUEL USER WITH A GAMBLING ADDICTION IS BEING EXAMINED BY PENNSYLVANIA AUTHORITIES

Harper claimed he received what appeared to be a personal request rather than a corporate work order to wish “Terry” a happy Thanksgiving.

“FanDuel then put its logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion,” Harper wrote. “I didn’t know FanDuel was going to do this, I didn’t consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do this.”

There is an obvious problem with Harper’s statement.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper stands on the bench before a game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 25, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Brad Mills/Imagn Images)

The instructions he received and the entire script he read on camera clearly mentioned the sports betting site.

In the footage, Harper looks into the lens and says she reached out to Thompson because she wanted to make sure “your host Bryttanni from FanDuel” had an extra special holiday.

It’s hard to claim complete ignorance when you actively read the words “From FanDuel” out loud.

Harper said he read the script “in good faith.”

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But it’s a tough look for a superstar like Harper to read a sportsbook’s name in a paid video without asking a single question.

Attention now turns to whether Major League Baseball will take a closer look.

The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is already investigating FanDuel’s use of celebrity messages to target high-stakes VIP bettors.

It remains to be seen whether Major League Baseball believes Harper crossed any lines. Although Harper does not bet on baseball, the situation is likely to attract attention because it includes a promotional message tied to a sports betting site.

Fox News Digital/OutKick has reached out to the Phillies and Harper’s agent, FanDuel, for comment.

At best, Harper was incredibly naive.

He failed to realize that a script referencing a “FanDuel server” amounted to a gambling promotion.

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At worst, he accepted a paid request without asking enough questions and is now backing out after the ugly reality of his sports betting addiction came to light.

Either way, it’s a bad look for one of baseball’s biggest stars. Next time, Harper might want to read the fine print before reaching for the record.

Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies leave the field after defeating the New York Mets at Citizens Bank Park on June 20, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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