The former soccer star entered into a promotional agreement with the gym franchise that is co-owned by the actor, but things quickly soured. David Beckham, left, and Mark Wahlberg.Credit…Left, Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
The former English soccer star David Beckham is entangled in a court battle against F45, a popular global fitness brand co-owned by the actor and entrepreneur Mark Wahlberg.
David Beckham alleges that F45, the fitness company, did not uphold its end of the contractual agreement after he signed a promotional deal to boost the brand’s growth in 2020, preceding its initial public offering. According to court documents filed by Mr. Beckham’s legal team, F45 significantly benefited from their association with him, which heightened the company’s public visibility and credibility. Following this collaboration, F45 went public in 2021, experiencing a valuation nearly three times higher than its previous assessment.
However, Mr. Beckham asserts that F45 failed to fulfill the promised “substantial cash and equity compensation” outlined in their initial agreement. He alleges that when the company encountered financial challenges in 2022, attributed to fiscal mismanagement and broader economic pressures, F45 withheld millions of dollars owed to him.
Here is what we know about the case so far.
What is the crux of the lawsuit?
In 2020, F45 engaged in a promotional partnership with Mr. Beckham’s company, DB Ventures Limited, as outlined in court documents. Over the subsequent years, Mr. Beckham alleges that F45 failed to uphold at least two key commitments: the timely transfer of nearly one million shares of stock and the issuance of $5 million worth of additional shares. He asserts that the delay in transferring the initial shares resulted in a loss of $9.3 million due to a decline in the stock price.
In response, Mr. Beckham initiated legal action in May 2023, seeking damages from F45 exceeding $14 million, exclusive of any accrued interest.
What is F45?
F45 is a fitness franchise originating from Australia in 2013. It provides 45-minute, bootcamp-style workout sessions led by in-studio trainers and electronic displays. The company operates through a network of franchisee-owned workout studios, boasting over 2,000 locations across more than 50 countries, as indicated on its website.
What is Mr. Wahlberg’s connection to F45?
In 2019, Mr. Wahlberg acquired a 36 percent stake in the business through his investment group, according to the lawsuit. He is also a board member of F45.
He regularly appears in a promotional capacity for the company, including in an Instagram video on the gym’s account as recently as this week.
What have Mr. Beckham and Mr. Wahlberg said about the lawsuit?
Representatives for both parties have not responded to requests for comment regarding the lawsuit as of Tuesday. However, lawyers for F45 have responded to Mr. Beckham’s complaint in court documents, denying multiple allegations. F45 also claims that Mr. Beckham has not fully performed his obligations and that he is “attempting to benefit from his own wrongdoing and has unclean hands.”
Has F45 been sued by other notable people?
It seems that Terrell Owens, a former N.F.L. wide receiver, sued F45 in 2017, alleging that the company failed to pay him over $700,000 as per their agreement. Reports suggest that Owens was initially paid $15,000 for creating a promotional video, but he claimed that F45 was obligated to pay him additional bonuses of $25,000 for each of the first 25 F45 gyms opened in the United States, followed by $5,000 for subsequent gyms.
A spokesperson for F45 responded to Owens’ claims, labeling them as a “total fabrication” and asserting that he had “picked a fight with the wrong company.” The outcome of this case is not explicitly stated, so it remains unclear how it was resolved.
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