Paris, France: An Olympian's plea for help with her rent has sparked a wave of generosity, with American rapper Flavour Flav and Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian stepping in to cover her expenses.
Veronica Fraley, a discus thrower competing for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, took to X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week to express her financial struggles. "I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and canât even pay my rent," she wrote, adding an emoji of a person with a wide-eyed, incredulous expression.
Fraley's post caught the attention of Flavour Flav, who has been a vocal supporter of Team USA at the Games, particularly the women's water polo team. He also serves as the "hype man" for both the men's and women's US water polo teams.
Flavour Flav, known for his energetic stage presence with the hip-hop group Public Enemy, saw Fraley's post as an opportunity to highlight the often-overlooked financial struggles faced by Olympians. "Iâm just happy to help those who are representing the best of all of us," he said in a statement to CNN. "This is exactly why I have been in Paris. I am trying to bring awareness of some of the hardships Olympians experience. They are out here working two to three jobs just to get by."
In a show of solidarity, Flavour Flav promptly pledged to cover Fraley's rent for the month. Ohanian, known for his entrepreneurial spirit and support of women's sports, joined in, offering to pay Fraley's rent for the rest of 2024.
Fraley, a first-time Olympian and a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, had previously expressed her frustration on X, noting that her school's financial assistance was significantly less than what is provided to football players. "My school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players ⦠enough to buy new cars and houses," she wrote, adding that the Vanderbilt Commodores football team "havenât won anything."
While Vanderbilt University did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN, Fraley's plea resonated with both Flavour Flav and Ohanian, who were quick to offer their support. "I gotchu," Flavour Flav wrote on X. "DM me and Iâll send payment TODAY so you donât have to worry bout it TOMORROW.â
A representative for Flavour Flav confirmed to CNN that he had indeed paid Fraley's rent in full, with Ohanian covering the remainder of the year. Ohanian shared a screenshot on X of a transaction for $7,760, further confirming his contribution.
Fraley expressed her gratitude to both men in a post on X, stating that their generosity "makes every difference in the WORLD & I hope to represent team USA well this week."
The incident highlights the ongoing disparity in resources and support for female athletes, even at the highest level of competition. While some countries offer financial incentives for medal wins, athletes often struggle financially, particularly in the United States, where NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals are largely restricted to revenue-generating sports like football and basketball.
Flavour Flav's commitment to supporting women's sports has been consistent, extending beyond Fraley's rent crisis. He was instrumental in securing a sponsorship deal with USA Water Polo, becoming a sponsor for both the men's and women's national teams. "Hopefully this will open up the door for other celebrities to do what Iâm doing and come and sponsor some of these Olympic teams," Flavour Flav told "Today" in an interview from Paris. "When people arenât really out here competing, theyâre home, working ⦠Thereâs nothing wrong with coming in and giving that little extra push.â
Ohanian, whose wife Serena Williams is a legendary tennis player, has also been a vocal advocate for women's sports. He has invested in Angel City FC, a professional women's soccer team in Los Angeles, and is hosting a women's running event with a $60,000 prize later this year.
The acts of generosity by Flavour Flav and Ohanian have not only provided Fraley with much-needed financial relief but also served as a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting women's sports. Their actions have shown that financial assistance and recognition are crucial in fostering a level playing field for all athletes, regardless of their gender. As Fraley prepares for her discus throw qualifier, she can do so with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that she has the support of not only a community but also some unexpected and influential allies.
