Flavor Flav Bounces Back After Relapse and Doubles Down on Support for U.S. Women’s Water Polo Ahead of 2028 Olympics

Flavor Flav Bounces Back After Relapse and Doubles Down on Support for U.S. Women’s Water Polo Ahead of 2028 Olympics.

From relapse to redemption, Flavor Flav is showing up where it matters — in life, in sports, and courtside.

The Public Enemy legend, now 65, has recently been in the spotlight for two very different reasons: a brief but honest relapse after over four years of sobriety — and a surprisingly passionate role as sponsor and hype man for the U.S. Women’s Water Polo team, just a few years out from the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

 

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From the Stage to the Pool Deck

Yep, that’s right — Flavor Flav is repping Team USA’s water polo squads. In July 2024, he inked a five-year deal to back both the women’s and men’s teams, providing funding, energy, and visibility most Olympic athletes rarely recieve.

“These girls are working two, three jobs just to train,” he said at a Raising Cane’s campaign event. “I had to get involved. I respect that grind.”

The campaign, titled “Flavor Fast”, launched nationwide with merch drops and special edition blinged-out clock necklaces, with proceeds going to the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Olympic Dreams and Family Moments

Flav didn’t just throw money at the movement — he showed up in Paris for the 2024 Games, watching Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles take home gold and catching Team USA Women’s Rugby secure a bronze.

“Breathtaking,” he said. “Had my family there. Got to see Billie Jean King, watched history go down.”

He’s now manifesting a new dream:

“2028, L.A. — I wanna carry that torch. For real.”

Sobriety, Slips, and Standing Back Up

While supporting others, Flav also faced a personal bump in the road. In April 2025, he publicly admitted to a brief relapse after maintaining sobriety since October 2020.

“Just when you think it’s easy, it ain’t,” he wrote on Instagram. “I slipped. I’m holding myself accountable and starting over.”

His honesty sparked tons of support — with fans and fellow artists applauding his openness and resolve.

“It’s Day 1 again. But I’m still on the path,” he wrote. “Time don’t stop. I’m still moving.”

What’s Next for Flav?

Besides championing water polo, Flav and Public Enemy are headed back to the UK with a special show at Royal Albert Hall in June — their first in nearly a decade. They’ll also hit major festivals like Sea.Hear.Now and Shaky Knees alongside Blink-182 and Vampire Weekend.

So yeah, Flavor Flav’s been through it — but he’s still clocked in, still loud, still pushing forward.

Public Enemy Concert

And while Flav’s out here making waves in women’s sports, he’s not forgetting where he came from. Public Enemy is reuniting for a massive one-night-only show at London’s Royal Albert Hall this June, marking 35 years since Fight the Power shook the world. After that? Festivals, fans, and full-volume throwbacks. Whether it’s supporting athletes or grabbing the mic again — Flavor Flav is all in.

Presale tickets go on sale April 3 at 9:00 am, with general sales on April 4th at 9:00 am.