Jordan Chiles may have been stripped of her well-deserved Olympic bronze medal, but an unexpected gesture from Flavor Flav at the 2024 VMAs has given her something irreplaceable.
During the 2024 Paris Olympics in August, Jordan Chiles’ bronze medal win for the individual floor routine event came under review. Initially scoring a 13.666 and placing fifth, her coaches lodged an inquiry into her scoring. Upon review, her score was adjusted to reflect her performance’s difficulty, and she was awarded the bronze medal, standing proudly beside Simone Biles, who took silver, and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade, who won gold.
However, this victory was short-lived. Romania filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which ruled in favor of reverting to the original scores. Consequently, Jordan had to return her bronze medal to Romanian gymnast Ana Barbosu. The gymnastics community and fans alike were left disheartened by this decision.
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Fast forward to the 2024 Video Music Awards (VMAs) on September 11, where Jordan Chiles and Flavor Flav were present to announce the Best Collaboration award. In an unexpected turn of events, Flavor Flav, who also supports the USA Water Polo Women’s and Men’s National Teams, presented Jordan with a unique gift. Before announcing the winner, he placed a diamond-encrusted bronze clock around her neck, symbolizing the medal she had to relinquish. The audience erupted in applause.
Flavor Flav addressed the moment poignantly in a clip shared on MTV’s Instagram, saying, “I just want to turn this into a little Olympic moment for a second if ya’ll don’t mind. Ay yo Jordan, I know they tried to take your medal away from you, but you know what? I got you something that they can’t take away from you.” He further surprised the audience and Jordan by adding, “And guess what else? I got your prize money too. I just wanted to surprise you with that.”
The reaction on social media was overwhelmingly positive. Fans across various platforms celebrated Flavor Flav’s heartfelt gesture. One user commented, “This moment was everything. @flavorflavofficial is a real one 👏❤️,” while another wrote, “This may have been my favorite moment of the night???” The sentiment was clear: Flavor Flav’s act of kindness resonated deeply with viewers, reaffirming his status as a beloved figure in popular culture.
Flavor Flav’s touching tribute to Jordan Chiles at the VMAs not only provided a moment of emotional redemption for the gymnast but also highlighted the enduring spirit of sportsmanship and support. The reaction from fans underscores the power of symbolic acts of kindness in the face of adversity.