Olympic athlete shares post about struggling to pay rent. Reddit co-founder, US rapper help

Veronica Fraley, a 24-year-old American track and field athlete, recently highlighted her financial difficulties just before her appearance at the Paris Olympics 2024. In a post shared on X, Fraley revealed that she would be competing in the discus event on Friday but lacked the funds to pay her rent.

"I compete in the Olympic Games TOMORROW and can’t even pay my rent," she wrote. "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, an athlete at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, expressed her frustration over the disparity in financial support, as reported by Forbes.

Following her post, notable figures from the entertainment and tech industries stepped in to assist. Rapper Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Drayton Jr., responded, "I gotchu. DM me and I’ll send payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry bout it TOMORROW." Shortly after, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian offered to help, stating, "C'mon now! I'll split it with Flavor Flav."

Ohanian, a well-known advocate for women athletes and husband of tennis champion Serena Williams, later shared a screenshot confirming the transaction, indicating that Fraley received $7,760.

In an update, Fraley clarified that her frustration was not directed at Vanderbilt University but at the broader regulations that prevent her from earning what she believes she deserves as a collegiate athlete. She specifically mentioned the "NIL" rules, which refer to "name, image, and likeness" rights. These rules govern how college athletes can profit from their personal brands through endorsements, social media, and other ventures, often favouring popularity over performance.