Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper has addressed the controversy surrounding a personalized Cameo video that was later used in a FanDuel promotion, saying he had no knowledge the message would be turned into a commercial advertisement.
The issue surfaced just before the 2026 MLB All-Star festivities in Philadelphia, where Harper is representing the Phillies and competing in the Home Run Derby. The video, originally created for a fan named Terry Thompson, gained widespread attention after reports suggested it had been used as part of a FanDuel VIP campaign.
Responding through his Instagram story, Harper explained that the Cameo request was submitted in November 2024 by someone identifying themselves only as “Bryttanni.” According to Harper, the request appeared to be a simple holiday greeting for a fan, and he completed it believing it was a personal message.
Harper said Cameo had a separate process for business-related requests and insisted he was never informed the video would be used for promotional purposes. He claimed FanDuel later added its branding to the clip and used it in a gambling-related campaign without his approval.
The Phillies first baseman emphasized that he never consented to the commercial use of the video and has no relationship with FanDuel. He added that had he known the company’s intentions—or any details about the recipient or an alleged partnership between FanDuel and Cameo—he would not have recorded the message.
To support his account, Harper shared a screenshot of the original request, which asked him to wish Terry and his family a happy Thanksgiving while mentioning Terry’s son, Max. The instructions also encouraged Harper to add his own personal touches.
Harper concluded by saying the matter remains under investigation and that, following legal advice, he would not be making any further public comments for now.
