Bryce Harper vs FanDuel: Use of Video Without Consent

Controversy Over the Use of Bryce Harper's Likeness

Bryce Harper, slugger of the Philadelphia Phillies, claims he did not give consent for the use of his image and likeness as a VIP reward to encourage excessive gambling.

FanDuel sent bettor Terry Thompson a personalized thank-you video with a message from Bryce Harper, which was adapted to Thompson's name and personal details, including the fact that he has a young son. Terry Thompson placed bets totaling $18.5 million on FanDuel, after which he received this video as a thank-you from the company.

Harper states he was unaware of Thompson's situation and his possible gambling problems at the time of recording the video, and says: «If I had known FanDuel's true intentions, I would not have made this video». The video was obtained by FanDuel through the Cameo platform, where celebrities are paid to record personal videos and retain the right to decide who they are distributed to.

Terry Thompson sued FanDuel, claiming that through gambling at sportsbooks he lost $1.52 million, and the lawsuit also mentions DraftKings. FanDuel claims the company promotes responsible gambling and has trained staff who can identify signs of problem gambling, and emphasizes that it is not an offshore bookmaker.