Hip-hop star Flavor Flav steps in to pay US Olympian’s rent
PARIS—American discus thrower Veronica Fraley can focus on competing at the Paris Olympics now that her rent is paid after her public plea for financial help led to her rescue by a couple of surprising sources.
Hip-hop star Flavor Flav and Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit cofounder and husband of tennis great Serena Williams, split the cost of Fraley’s rent after her public financial appeal.
“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,” Fraley posted on X on Thursday.
The 65-year-old Flav, who also sponsors the US women’s water polo team, was quick to respond, writing “I gotchu. DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry about it TOMORROW, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow.
“LETZ GO!!!”
Ohanian chimed in less than 10 minutes later.
“C’mon now! I’ll split it with @flavorflav,” Ohanian wrote, and then posted less than two hours later: “Update! It is done.”
He posted a third tweet with a screen shot of a money transfer for $7,760 to Fraley.
Flav, who is the founding member of American rap group Public Enemy, added: “Man of my word, and Imma try and come by and support you in person tomorrow. LMK what time.”
The 24-year-old Fraley’s original plea has 18 million views on X.
Ohanian is also promising to pay $60,000 to any of the 36 athletes entered in his Athlos NYC women-only track meet on Sept. 26 if they win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics. That is over and above the $60,000 the winners at his Athlos event will receive.
