Flavor Flav surprised Olympian Jordan Chiles with a touching gesture at the 2024 MTV Music Video Awards.
While onstage with Chiles to present the award for best collaboration, which went to Taylor Swift and Post Malone for “Fortnight,” the rapper addressed the controversial decision that caused the gymnast to have her bronze medal revoked. “I just want to turn this into a little Olympic moment for a second, if you don’t mind,” Flav announced.
Turning to Chiles, he added, “I know they tried to take your medal away. But you know what? I got you something that they can’t take away from you.” The crowd cheered as Flav presented Chiles with her very own blinged-out bronze clock, styled similarly to his own signature accessory. After the rapper finished tying it around the athlete’s neck, an emotional Chiles remarked, “Wow, I don’t even know what to say here!”
Chiles’ mom Gina tweeted in support of Flav’s gift. She wrote, “My baby @ChilesJordan is living it up at the @vmas! You did so good presenting with @FlavorFlav and the bronze clock. Now you are dancing with @taylorswift13 and looking gorgeous!! That smile says it all! So soooo so happy for you.”
The athlete was originally awarded a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics after her coach, Cecile Landi, made an appeal during the Aug. 5 floor exercise final. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately ruled that the U.S. team made its appeal four seconds after the one-minute deadline. This meant that the bronze medal would have to be returned and handed instead to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu.
Following CAS’ decision, Chiles took to social media to share her reaction. “I have no words,” she wrote in a statement. “This decision feels unjust and comes as a significant blow, not just to me, but to everyone who has championed my journey. To add to the heartbreak, the unprompted racially driven attacks on social media are wrong and extremely hurtful. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this sport and I am so proud to represent my culture and my country.”
Flavor Flav, who was an outspoken supporter of the athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics, had previously teased on X (formerly Twitter) that he was going to make a “bronze clock necklace” for the athlete.