David Beckham Sues Mark Wahlberg-Backed Fitness Company
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Originally appeared on E! Online
It's David Beckham versus Mark Wahlberg.
The soccer star's firm DB Ventures filed a lawsuit against the fitness organization F45 Training, which is backed by the actor, in April 2023, Today reports while citing court documents obtained by NBC News.
Per a copy of the complaint reviewed by outlet, Beckham formed a five-year agreement with F45 Training in 2020 to help it grow before it went public in July 2021—such as by sharing social media posts about the brand that have since been deleted.
Today, citing the complaint, reports that F45 Training agreed to pay Beckham $1.5 million a year for his services as well as company stock that would be offered to him six months and then 12 months after its public offering.
However, attorneys for Beckham's DB Ventures allege that F45 Training didn't hold up its end of the bargain and that it didn't transfer and register the shares of stock until about eight months after the date the parties agreed to despite Beckham's attorneys sending several letters asking for this issue to be corrected, Today reports citing the court documents.
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During this eight-month period, the complaint reportedly continues, F45 Training's stock price dropped—with Beckham's attorneys claiming the stock shares were worth approximately $9.3 million less than they were in January 2022.
As a result, Beckham's DB Ventures is suing F45 Training for $9.3 million, plus an additional $5 million, as well as $4.5 million he says he was set to receive for the rest of his agreement with F45 Training, Today writes citing the complaint.
However, attorneys for F45 Training denied these allegations and argued it did provide Beckham the agreed-upon shares, according to an answer to the complaint obtained by Today. Per the outlet, the organization filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit but it was denied in September 2023.
Wahlberg first became a strategic investor in F45 Training in 2019 and was named chief brand officer of the organization in 2023.
Meanwhile, David's partnership with F45 Training was announced in August 2021, with the retired athlete describing his bond with the Oscar nominee and sharing his thoughts on the company in a blog post.
"I've been a fan of the F45 franchise and training model since being introduced by my friend, Mark Wahlberg," he wrote on F45 Training's website at the time. "Health and fitness have always been a big part of my life and, since my days playing football, I have always found I'm at my best when training as part of a team."
"F45 has a strong community and trainers that help you reach your goals and achieve powerful results," Beckham had added. "This partnership is an exciting business venture for me also, and I'm looking forward to the journey with F45 as the business continues to expand globally."
E! News has reached out to Beckham and Wahlberg's teams for comment but has yet to hear back.
To read about celebrity feuds, keep scrolling.
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family).
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