Flavor Flav has issued an open invitation to the U.S. women’s ice hockey team to celebrate in Las Vegas following controversy surrounding a White House invite.
The team captured gold at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics with an overtime win over Canada. Days later, attention shifted away from the ice when only the men’s team initially received a White House invitation.
After criticism over the omission, the women were later included, but the sequence of events had already sparked debate.
Flavor Flav offers Team USA a “real celebration” in Las Vegas
Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., shared a formal message inviting the women’s team to Las Vegas. He framed the offer as a way to properly recognize their Olympic achievement.
“I am reaching out on behalf of Flavor Flav. First, massive congratulations on the gold!! We saw the story about the men’s invite to the White House, and the not-quite invite for the women’s team.”
“If the team wants a real celebration and invite, I’ll host them in Las Vegas. Do some nice dinners and shows and good times.”
“I think a lot of other celebrities like myself need to step up to the plate and sponsor some of these Olympic teams, because these Olympians are out there busting their butts to make us look good.
“After the sport has been played, people have a tendency to forget about the sport until it’s played again. I want this sport to stick in your mind after the season is over.”
White House invitation followed initial men-only outreach
The situation began when the men’s hockey team received an invitation during a call following their gold medal win.
The women’s team was referenced afterwards, prompting questions about why they were not part of the original outreach.
Following public reaction, the women were formally included in the invitation. The team later declined to attend, citing scheduling conflicts related to academic and professional commitments.
Flavor Flav’s Las Vegas proposal emerged soon after that decision, shifting the spotlight from Washington to a privately hosted celebration.
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