Additional Coverage:
- Flavor Flav and Alexis Ohanian help pay Team USA athlete’s rent (newsbreak.com)
Olympic athletes often become household names, yet they face hefty expenses for training, travel, and education. When Team USA discus thrower Veronica Fraley tweeted about her financial struggles just before the Paris Olympics, stating her inability to pay rent, celebrities Flavor Flav and Alexis Ohanian came to her aid.
Fraley explained that while Vanderbilt University covers about 75% of her housing costs, the financial support is insufficient compared to the school’s football players, who earn enough to afford new cars and homes. Amid this financial crunch, rapper and media personality Flavor Flav quickly responded to Fraley’s tweet, offering to send money immediately to alleviate her worries. His tweet cheered her on, expressing enthusiastic support for her competition the following day.
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and Serena Williams’ husband, joined the effort by agreeing to split the bill with Flavor Flav. Ohanian went on to show a Venmo transaction of $7,760 to Fraley, humorously labeling the aid ‘MURICA’.
Despite their own wealth—Ohanian’s net worth estimated by Forbes in 2019 at $70 million and Flavor Flav’s at $2 million according to Celebrity Net Worth—their quick response highlights the financial challenges even top athletes can face.
Flavor Flav, also known as William Jonathan Drayton Jr., has recently committed to a five-year sponsorship deal with the USA Women’s Water Polo team, providing financial support and boosting their visibility on social platforms and at events. His involvement is not just about financial aid; he expressed in a news release the honor he feels in supporting the teams and the importance of bringing attention to less recognized sports.
This gesture of community support dramatically amplified the reach of Fraley’s plight—from 7,000 initial views to 10 million—resulting in her rent being covered for the year. Fraley, grateful for the immense support, has also started a GoFundMe to further support her athletic endeavors.
The case underscores the broader issue of financial inequities among collegiate athletes, which has led to significant NCAA policy changes, allowing student athletes to earn from sponsorships and receive payments directly from schools. Yet, as the swift actions of Flavor Flav and Ohanian demonstrate, community involvement can profoundly impact an individual athlete’s career and well-being.
Read More About This Story:
- Flavor Flav and Alexis Ohanian help pay Team USA athlete’s rent (newsbreak.com)