Harper finally broke his silence over a controversial Cameo video he recorded in November 2024 for gambler Terry Thompson.Harper says he believed he was recording a holiday greeting.Instead, the message landed in the middle of a lawsuit alleging FanDuel targeted Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with sportsbooks and lost more than $1.5 million on the platform alone.Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bryce Harper tosses the ball towards first base vs.the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Wisconsin.
(Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images)Thompson's lawsuit against FanDuel and several other defendants has now dragged Harper into the middle of the controversy.FANDUEL, BRYCE HARPER VIDEO TO LOSING GAMBLER REINFORCES THE GREED OF THE MLB, SPORTSBOOKS AND THE UNIONFacing intense public scrutiny, Harper released a statement on his Instagram Stories and attempted to distance himself from FanDuel."I joined Cameo to engage with fans through paid personalized videos," Harper wrote."What happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved."BRYCE HARPER VIDEO TO FANDUEL USER WITH GAMBLING ADDICTION UNDER REVIEW BY PENNSYLVANIA OFFICIALSHarper claimed he received what appeared to be a personal request, rather than a corporate business order, to wish "Terry" a happy Thanksgiving."FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion," Harper wrote.
"I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it."There is a glaring problem with Harper's explanation.Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper stands in the dugout before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2026.(Brad Mills/Imagn Images)The instructions he received, and the exact script he read on camera, explicitly mentioned the sportsbook.In the footage, Harper looks into the lens and tells Thompson he is reaching out because "your host Bryttanni from FanDuel" wanted to ensure he had an extra-sp...