Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper said Monday that he did not know how FanDuel would use a personalized video he made for a customer, who has since accused the sportsbook in a lawsuit of taking advantage of his gambling addiction.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Harper said he would not have made the video if he had known FanDuel's intent to use it as part of a VIP promotion or the betting habits of the customer, Terry Thompson.
"I did not know FanDuel would do this," Harper wrote. "I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it."
Harper said he received a request on Cameo in November 2024 to read the provided script for a personal "holiday video for Terry." The Philadelphia Inquirer published portions of the video in a story last Thursday, and Harper included a screenshot of the Cameo request with his statement.
"Hey, Terry? What's up, brother? Hey, man, your host Bryttanni from FanDuel wanted to make sure your Thanksgiving was extra special," Harper says in the opening of the video.
Thompson in March sued FanDuel and his VIP host Bryttanni Morgan, along with DraftKings, the NFL and the league's official data distributor, Genius Sports, claiming that the sportsbooks caused him to become addicted, leading to approximately $2 million in betting losses.
"Had I known FanDuel's true intent, I would not have made the video," Harper said. "The same is true had I known anything about Terry or his situation, or about any alleged 'partnership' between Cameo and FanDuel."
The suit alleges that Morgan contacted Thompson with promotional offers and gifts to encourage him to wager more on FanDuel, including tickets and hotel accommodations to attend the Super Bowl.
Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement allows players to do promotions with sportsbooks as long as they do not authorize the use of their name, uniform number, image or likeness, or promote betting on baseball.
FanDuel referred ESPN to its previous statement on the Harper issue, stating that its employees "are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools."
"We continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry's strongest consumer protection initiatives," the statement read.
Major League Baseball and the MLBPA declined comment on Harper's statement.
A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board told ESPN that it is reviewing the matter.