Function fitness chain F45 can’t seem to catch a break. The company where Mark Wahlberg owns a 36% stake saw stellar success initially and the firm even went on to team up with world-renowned sports personalities like Simone Biles, David Beckham, and more. However, it has since encountered several operational and financial issues over the past few years.

Mark Wahlberg invested in the company in 2019 when it hadn’t run into any serious problems. However, trouble mounted, and by 2023, F45 stood on the brink of bankruptcy. Marky Mark helped save the company last year. However, soccer legend David Beckham has brought some serious allegations and a $10 million lawsuit.

David Beckham vs. F45

David Beckham entered into a contract with F45 as one of its brand ambassadors in 2020. According to his attorneys, the Mark Wahlberg co-owned company agreed to pay the English soccer star $1.5 million annually. The deal also included Beckham earning shares in the company’s stock. He would earn them after six and then twelve months after F45 went public.

However, David Beckham’s attorneys complained that the Australia-based functional fitness brand failed to uphold their end of the bargain. They didn’t register the shares in Beckham’s name until eight months after the company went public. The soccer icon’s company, DB Ventures, filed a lawsuit in April 2023. However, details only surfaced recently.

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“F45 failed to issue substantial cash and equity compensation to DBVL as required by the parties’ agreement,“ the DBVL attorneys mentioned in the lawsuit. The complaint also mentions that Beckham’s attorneys sent several letters as the F45 stock price dropped significantly throughout the eight months.

According to TODAY, the Mark Wahlberg co-owned company owes Beckham roughly $10 million. However, the 48-year-old has sued F45 for an additional $5 million and is looking to earn $4.5 million for the remainder of his initially agreed five-year with F45. However, the functional fitness chain hasn’t conceded.

After the DBVL lawsuit, F45 countered it by filing a motion to dismiss the case. However, a judge denied the motion in September 2023. Yet, you may wonder how Mark Wahlberg fits into this besides co-owning the fitness brand.

How does Mark Wahlberg fit into the equation?

Mark Wahlberg and David Beckham became friends when the soccer star moved to California after signing with L.A. Galaxy. As a bodybuilding, fitness, and sports fan, Wahlberg hit it off with the soccer icon. Later, the 52-year-old action star offered Beckham a chance to become the then-growing brand’s global ambassador.

The 48-year-old agreed, and F45 announced its partnership with David Beckham in 2021. “I’ve been a fan of the F45 franchise and training model since being introduced by my friend, Mark Wahlberg,“ after the official announcement. “This partnership is an exciting business venture for me also,“ he added.

“I’m looking forward to the journey with F45 as the business continues to expand globally,“ David Beckham said in an optimistic statement. However, the growth and optimism didn’t last. The business took a downward turn after going public. Stock prices dropped, and co-founder Adam Gilchrist stepped down as CEO in 2022.

In early 2023, F45 laid off 45% of its on-site staff, and multiple outs were on the verge of closing. However, Mark Wahlberg stepped up to save the dying company. 

Mark Wahlberg did it once, but can he do it twice?

Mark Wahlberg became the Chief Brand Officer for F45 in early 2023. The functional fitness enthusiast had periodically held the F45 Wahlberg Week since buying a 36% stake in the company. After becoming Chief Brand Officer, he used Wahlberg Week as the trump card. F45 immediately started a marketing campaign.

Wahlberg personally coached several F45 members and helped get the operational side sorted. Thanks to the actor’s timely intervention and star power, F45 averted disaster. The company has stayed afloat since Mark Wahlberg took up duties as Chief Brand Officer. However, the recently surfaced lawsuit details indicate that F45 leaped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

In fact, the Mark Wahlberg co-owned company may have to face multiple lawsuits in court. Golfer Greg Norman and David Beckham had initially filed the lawsuit jointly. However, the court instructed Greg Norman to bring his case to court separately. However, there are no updates on Greg Norman’s complaint.

Unfortunately, F45 faced similar allegations from Terrell Owens. Owens filed a $700,000 lawsuit against the functional fitness brand in 2017. So Mark Wahlberg has his work cut out for him. TODAY reached out to F45 and Mark Wahlberg for their comments. However, neither party has commented on the Beckham lawsuit yet.

While Mark Wahlberg used his star power to save a sinking ship in 2023, this time it’s different. Only time will tell if Marky Mark succeeds in saving F45 yet again.