Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) talks with manager Don Mattingly during a pitching change in the eighth inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. The Reds lost 4-1 to the Phillies.
Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper currently finds himself at the middle of a potential scandal involving FanDuel and their encouragement of a gambling addict who was $1.5 million in the hole.
However, as new information continues to present itself about the story, the possibility has arisen that Harper was unknowingly looped into the scheme and used to promote the company without his knowledge.
In a story published Thursday by David Gambacorta of The Philadelphia Inquirer, FanDuel stands accused of using luxury perks to encourage gambling addict Terry Thompson to continue to place large wagers despite Thompson allegedly gambling away his family’s life savings.
Among those perks was a video from Harper to Thompson and his young son.
“I just wanted to hop on here and wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving,” Harper says in the video. “Tell (Thompson’s son) I said hello. I appreciate all the support through the years.”
A spokesperson from the gambling company told BroBible that ““FanDuel is committed to fostering a culture of responsible gaming and protecting our customers. Unlike illegal offshore sportsbooks, FanDuel employees are trained to recognize and flag signs of problem gambling and offer resources and tools, and we continue to review and strengthen our policies to ensure we have the industry’s strongest consumer protection initiatives.”
However, what was Harper’s role in the alleged controversy?
Bryce Harper May Not Have Known What FanDuel Was Doing To Gambling Addict
Neither Major League Baseball nor the Philadelphia Phillies nor Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, offered a comment when reached by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
However, there’s now evidence to suggest that Harper was completely unaware of what the video would be used for.
Not only is Harper not listed as an official affiliate of the company, but he also was not sporting any FanDuel gear in the video.
Fans are now wondering if the FanDuel representative purchased a Cameo from Harper, in which he was asked to wish Thompson and his son a Happy Thanksgiving, and then she added FanDuel’s logo over the top before sending the video to the high roller.
What are the odds that the FanDuel VIP paid Bryce Harper for a cameo video and slapped a FanDuel logo on it? pic.twitter.com/H8J8WEmHlY
— The Red Stripes Supporter Group (@TheRedStripesSG) July 10, 2026
Whether or not that is actually what happened remains to be seen. But given the fact that Harper is not an official partner of the company and did not represent FanDuel in any direct capacity, it would make sense.
What do you think happened? Let us know in the comments below!