Ahead of discus throw qualifications at the Paris Olympics, graduate student-athlete Veronica Fraley wrote on X that she could not pay her rent due to Vanderbilt only sending her 75% of the money.
American Rapper Flavor Flav and Reddit Co-Founder Alexis Ohanian responded to the tweet, both saying they would help cover her rent.
“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,!!!” Flav wrote on X.
Flav offered his help first, with Ohanian later writing, “C’mon now! I’ll split it with @flavorfav.” Flav shared a screenshot on X proving that he sent Fraley money — the amount is not shown. He also stated that he would try to come and support Fraley in person during her competition. Ohanian shared a screenshot showing that he sent Fraley $7,760.
Fraley expressed her gratitude, thanking Ohanian and Flav on X. She also wrote that she was able to pay her rent.
After her story gained traction, Fraley also opened a GoFundMe to help support her future discus endeavors. As of publication, she has raised $22,018. Fraley added that she is not directly frustrated with Vanderbilt but with NIL regulations.
“Thanks for the supporting messages but I want to clarify my irritation isn’t with the school itself, mainly the rules that bar me from making the amount I’m WORTH as a collegiate athlete such as NIL which favors popularity over performance,” Fraley wrote on X.
Both Flav and Ohanian are involved in other aspects of the Olympic games, with Flav recently signing a five-year sponsorship deal to serve as the official hype man for the U.S. men’s and women’s national water polo teams. Ohanian is the husband of former American tennis player and four-time Olympic gold medalist Serena Williams.
The university released a statement on Aug. 2 in response to Fraley’s X posts stating that it is committed to supporting its student-athletes and has provided Fraley with “the maximum financial aid consistent with NCAA regulations.” The university added that it helps student-athletes with name, image and likeness opportunities that are independent of the university by NCAA and state law.
“We congratulate Veronica not only on her many athletic accomplishments but also for completing her courses to earn her master’s degree,” the statement reads. “It is exciting that this Vanderbilt graduate is representing the United States at the 2024 Olympic Games. Our coaching staff in Paris, along with the entire Vanderbilt community, are cheering for Veronica as she competes on the world stage.”
Fraley is the 2024 NCAA Discus Champion and 2024 SEC Field Athlete of the Year, among other accolades. She is set to graduate with her master’s in Human Development and Family Studies from Peabody College this August.
In the discus throw qualifications, she placed 13th, just one place short of moving on to the medal rounds. On X, Fraley shared that she is now working towards the 2025 World Athletics Championships and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
