At the Paris Olympics, while athletes showcased their incredible talents, it was Flavor Flav who unexpectedly captured the spotlight. Fans began to speculate whether he was receiving compensation for his appearances, similar to Snoop Dogg, who reportedly made $500,000 per day. However, at 65 years old, Flav made it clear he was there for the athletes and financed his own trip, including tickets for his family and friends attending water polo events. “Imma here to support the athletes,” he shared on social media.
Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Drayton, not only drew attention with his iconic clock necklace but also his charitable spirit. Responding to a plea from Veronica Fraley, a track and field athlete facing financial struggles, Flav stepped up immediately. Veronica, a 24-year-old NCAA discus champion, expressed her distress on X, stating, “I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent.” She voiced frustration about financial disparities, noting how her school provided less support to her compared to football players.
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Without a moment’s hesitation, Flavor Flav offered assistance: “I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry about it TOMORROW… LETZ GO!”
Flav continued to show his enthusiastic support. U.S. women’s water polo team captain, Maggie Steffens, urged fans to back their team, highlighting the growing popularity of women’s sports on Instagram.
I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent 😒 my school only sent about 75% of my rent while they pay football players (who haven’t won anything 😂) enough to buy new cars and houses 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾
— Veronica™⚓️ (@vmfraley) August 1, 2024
True to his word, Flavor Flav later told the world on CBS Mornings that he was gifting each player on the U.S. women’s water polo team $1,000 and planning a Virgin Voyage cruise for the entire squad. “I’m there to hype them up,” he declared. “… And I know we can do it. We’re gonna get it.”
Flavor Flav’s unwavering support didn’t just stop at funding; he also brought plenty of fun along the way. When asked which rappers he’d choose for a water polo team, he humorously responded, “I will pick my boy Snoop Dogg to be the captain.”