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Hip-hop artist Flavor Flav wants to throw a party in Las Vegas for the United States women’s hockey team after winning Olympic gold over Canada at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
And it appears he’s doing so after seeing President Donald Trump’s invitation to the team for his State of the Union address Tuesday night, which the team declined because they cited “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”
Flavor Flav, whose real name is Williams Jonathan Drayton Jr., shared the formal invitation that was sent to USA Hockey.
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Ja Rule and Flavor Flav perform on stage during City of Hope’s 2023 Music, Film and Entertainment Spirit of Life® Gala honoring Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music for YouTube and Google at Pacific Design Center on October 18, 2023 in West Hollywood, California. (Lester Cohen/Getty Images for City of Hope)
The “not quite invitation” the email likely refers to refers to Trump’s phone call with the men’s hockey team on Sunday after their gold medal victory over Canada, which came in overtime similar to the women’s on the Olympic stage.
Trump invited the men’s hockey team to the State of the Union address, where he added: “I have to tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you know that.”
Trump also joked, “I think I’d probably get impeached” if he didn’t invite the women’s team in addition to the men’s.
The women’s team declined the invitation a day after Trump’s call.
“We are sincerely grateful for the invitation extended to our gold medal-winning US women’s hockey team and deeply appreciate the recognition of their extraordinary achievement,” USA Hockey told NBC News. “Due to the calendar and previously scheduled academic and professional commitments after the Games, athletes are not able to participate.
“They were honored to be included and are grateful for the recognition.”
The United States gold medalist team poses after the medal ceremony for women’s ice hockey following the women’s gold medal match between the United States and Canada on Day 13 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the women’s team’s rejection of Pak Gazette Digital’s invitation.
Flavor Flav’s original social media post said he would “do nice dinners, shows and good times” with the team, while hoping “a hotel and an airline” could help him celebrate his accomplishments. He also wanted to “invite my Bobsled + Skeleton team,” which won a record six Olympic bobsled medals.
Meanwhile, the men’s hockey team arrived in Florida on Monday hours after winning its gold medal. They flew to Miami International Airport where the festivities would immediately begin. They are expected to be at E11VEN MIAMI nightclub later Monday night.
FLAVOR FLAV HELPS US OLYMPIAN ATHLETE PAY RENT AFTER ASKING FOR HELP ON SOCIAL MEDIA
“We’re going to celebrate for a few days,” Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal in Sunday’s extra time in Milan, told reporters at the airport.
Now, this isn’t the first time Flavor Flav wanted to honor an American athlete, as he helped Olympic discus thrower Veronica Fraley pay rent as she struggled financially before representing the U.S. at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“Gotcha, DM me and I’ll send you payment TODAY so you don’t have to worry about it TOMORROW, and I’ll support you tomorrow COME ON!” Flavor Flav posted in X below his post.
Flavor Flav of Public Enemy performs during the Innings Festival at Tempe Beach & Arts Park on February 22, 2026 in Tempe, Arizona. (Tim Mosenfelder/WireImage)
While Flavor Flav got to work for Fraley, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, husband of tennis great Serena Williams, also pitched in to help, posting a receipt for more than $7,000 sent to Fraley. Flavor Flav claimed that because 10 million people saw his tweet, his rent was “paid for the year.”
As for the women’s hockey team, they return home with some ready to return to their professional careers, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League will resume its schedule Thursday night. The NHL will begin games for the second half of the season on Wednesday night.
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