Yahoo Lifestyle From Paying An Athlete's Rent To Making A Bronze Clock For Jordan Chiles, Here Are 9 Flavor Flav Olympics Moments That People Can't Stop Talking About
The Olympics may be about the athletes, but Flavor Flav deserves special recognition for his incredible acts of kindness during the event.
If you don't know, Flav is a rapper, reality star, and founding member of the rap group Public Enemy.
He's made a fair share of headlines over the years from his love life to controversies like a 1991 arrest for assaulting his girlfriend and a 2021 no-contest plea on a misdemeanor coercion charge related to an incident where he was accused of "grabbing" a woman's phone.
For anyone who watched the event, you know that Flav was in attendance — and people can't stop talking about a lot of his viral moments. Here are nine of them:
1.He sponsored the USA's Women's Water Polo team.
The move came after captain Maggie Steffens publicly asked for "support" for the team.
"[It] means everything to us & impacts our sport more than most," she wrote on Instagram. "Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age. Especially female sports and female athletes. We've had companies & amazing individuals support our sport alongside donors, USAWP & USOPC, but we always need more help."
Flav commented that, as "a girl dad and supporter of all women's sports," he'd be happy to sponsor the entire team. "My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y'all even more."
He also refused to take full credit for the idea amid the praise he received: "I been getting a lot of praise for my work with the water polo teams and the Olympics, but I didnt do it alone. I'm here with two Harvard Olympic Gold Medalists, Lauren Scruggs and my WoManager. The @washingtonpost said she deserves a gold medal,,, so im gonna give it to her…"
2. He made Jordan Chiles a bronze clock after she was stripped of her Olympic bronze medal.
USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,,Imma always a man of my word @ChilesJordan https://t.co/evxFPV0YEd pic.twitter.com/rz72uZeWEz
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 13, 2024
Her mom, Gina, said it "means the world" and promised to share it with Jordan, as she'd left social media amid the controversy.
3. He helped discus thrower Veronica Fraley after she said she was struggling to pay rent ahead of her Olympic debut.
I gotchu,,, DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW,,, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 1, 2024
"I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can't even pay my rent," Veronica said on X at the time. "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 👎🏾👎🏾👎🏾."
"I gotchu," Flav replied. "DM me and I'll send payment TODAY so you don't have to worry bout it TOMORROW,,, and imma be rooting for ya tomorrow LETZ GO,!!!"
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian also chimed in and said he'd gladly split the rent with Flav.
4.He helped send the family of Little Rock Paralympic swimmer Olivia Chambers to Paris.
Flav donated to her GoFundMe and then shared it on X, which led to additional donations.
Reacting to a subsequent news story about the outpouring of contributions prompted by his post, Flav tweeted, "WOOWWW,!!! This story. Ya boy just donated and shared it,,, I didn’t even know how much it helped ,,,, but I guess that just the FLAVOR FLAV EFFECT."
He added, "[I'm] wishing my girl Olivia da best of luck ,,, I know yo family on here ,,, hit me up ,!! LETZ GO OLIVIA,!!"
Olivia's mom "hit [him] up, too, expressing her gratitude to Flav on X. "THANK YOU! Her medical journey has been long and expensive and hard!" she wrote. "You helping us this way means the world to us! The Flavor Flav effect is real!!! You are making a HUGE difference in so many lives! Thanks for sharing the love with the para athletes!!!"
5. Flav did the same for the family of Paralympic swimmer Nick Mayhugh.
THIS is just one of the many @gofundme for the @Olympics and @Paralympics that I support. Imagine spending 18 years taking ya kid to every practice and game and working 2-3 jobs to buy equipment,,, and then not being able to watch them play the biggest game of they life. https://t.co/xnZWGABNbs
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 15, 2024
The fundraiser met its goal within a day of Flav sharing it on his page.
"WOOWWW,!!! Y'all we did it,!!!" Flav tweeted. "FULLY FUNDED within a day. This is the power of unity and community. Y'all helping make some dreams come true,!!!"
6. He had the purest reaction to meeting gymnast Frederick "Flips" Richard after he won bronze with the U.S. men's gymnastics team.
goated moment: Flavor Flav meets Frederick Flips pic.twitter.com/V3QjptMjlm
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) August 1, 2024
“Look at you!" Flav exclaimed. "Look at this! You go, boy!”
7. He shared the most supportive tweet after the women's water polo team's "heartbreaking loss" to Australia prevented them from earning a fourth consecutive gold medal.
Heartbreaking loss in double over time for my Water Polo girls,,, they will play for the bronze medal on Saturday. Imma so proud of all these women.
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 8, 2024
8. He gave an impromptu piano performance to a group of excited fans.
Don’t EVER sleep on my brother @FlavorFlav Flav can play EVERY instrument. He’s representing at this OLYMPICS! 👑 @PublicEnemyFTP #2024olympics #HipHop pic.twitter.com/Q5DS4QLzco
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) July 29, 2024
9. And finally, he had the perfect response to someone who compared him to Snoop Dogg and called him a "poor man's" version of him.
If y’all tryna clown on Flavor Flav,,, I will call you out Some of y’all weren’t hugged enough children,,, and it shows pic.twitter.com/vimXX9GW8D
— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 14, 2024
Flav said, "YEP ,!!! cuz I been donating my money during the Olympics to those in need,,, that might make ya boy a poor man in the pockets,,, but a rich man in the heart,!!!"
What are your thoughts on all of Flav's gestures at the Olympics? Do you know of any other humble and generous celebrities? Let us know in the comments below.
