Flavor Flav Tells Jordan Chiles 'I Got Your' Bronze Medal 'Prize Money' During MTV VMAs as He Gifts Her Clock Necklace

Mar. 15, 2025

Flavor Flav and Jordan Chiles speak on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

ike Coppola/Getty

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, the 65-year-old Public Enemy rapper presentedJordan Chileswith her very own bronze clock necklace, which he created after she wasstripped of her bronze medalfollowing the gymnastics floor exercise final last month at the Paris Olympics. He also seemingly vowed to pay her “prize money,” apparently referring to the sum American athletes receive for earning the medal.

While presenting the award for best collaboration, Flav brought up how “they tried to take your medal away from you,” before surprising Chiles with her newest accessory. “I got you something that they can’t take away from you,” Flav said, bestowing the timepiece, which he’s previouslyteased on social media, on the gymnast.

“Wow, I don’t even know what to say,” Chiles, 23, responded. “Thank you so much.”

Flavor Flav and Jordan Chiles speak on stage during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York.

Mike Coppola/Getty

After proudly reminding the crowd that he’s an official sponsor for U.S. women’s water polo team, the rapper said he wanted to turn their presentation into “an Olympic moment.”

“And guess what else, too,” Flav said. “I got your prize money, too. I got that for you. I got that for you. I got your prize money for you. I just wanted to surprise you with that. I didn’t want to say nothing to you backstage.”

“But Jordan, you did your thing. Congratulations. You deserve everything.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The clock presentation comes just weeks after Flav previously confirmed the existence of the necklace, which features bronze rhinestones throughout, for Chiles on social media. In a video shared to X (formerly Twitter) at the time, he wrote: “USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,, Imma always a man of my word@ChilesJordan,” referencing his hip-hop group Public Enemy’s infamous song “Fight the Power.”

Chiles' mom, Gina Chiles,wrotein response, “Thank you. Means the world. She’s not on socials right now as you can imagine. I’ll share it with her.”

The athlete’s bronze medal was stripped after a judge for the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) agreed with a petition from Romanian gymnasts Ana Barbosu — who had initially won third — and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea that claimed Chiles had incorrectlybeen awarded the podium spotduring the floor final on Aug. 5.

Chiles' medal will be reallocated to Barbosu, the IOC announced in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Sunday, Aug. 11.

source: people.com