David Beckham’s DB Ventures company filed a lawsuit against F45 Training, which Mark Wahlberg partially owns, Us Weekly can confirm.
Beckham, 48, claimed in the court documents obtained by TMZ that F45 “duped” him into signing an endorsement deal. The soccer star’s company first filed the complaint in May 2023.
Beckham had initially agreed to serve as F45’s global ambassador in August 2021 when he moved to Los Angeles. While living in the City of Angels, Beckham bonded with Wahlberg, 52. (Neither star presently lives in California. The English athlete is based in Miami running his soccer team while Wahlberg resides in Las Vegas.)
Per the legal documents, Beckham claimed that he never received the $10 million he was offered in contract negotiations. He was allegedly promised stocks as compensation, which were never delivered after share prices seemingly plummeted. (Beckham also named Wahlberg’s eponymous investment firm in the suit.)
Wahlberg’s lawyers, meanwhile, denied the claims, calling the “fraudulent conduct” accusations baseless in a motion to dismiss according to The Sun.
“The 209-page, 610-paragraph SAC [complaint] tries to make up with length what it lacks in merit,” a response from Wahlberg’s lawyers read.
F45 launched in 2011 with Wahlberg, who owns more than 30 percent of the company, serving as chief brand officer. F45 founders Adam Gilchrist and Rob Deutsch are also named in the suit.
Beckham and former golfer Greg Norman sued F45 Training together in late 2022, but a judge ordered them to separate their lawsuits.
The company, which was once valued at $1.4 billion, lost over $370 million between 2021 and 2023, the Sydney Morning Herald reported in October 2023, and employees faced layoffs and cost-cutting measures.
According to the brand’s website, F45 is a “global fitness and lifestyle community” that offers functional training, HIIT workouts as well as nutritional guidance. Fitness has long been a priority for Wahlberg.
“I love getting in a 4 a.m. workout to jump-start my day,” the action star exclusively told Us Weekly in April 2018. “I feel like crap until I can get to the gym. … You have nothing without your health. And happiness is limited if you don’t feel good about yourself.”
Two years later, Wahlberg reiterated his wellness priorities in a second interview with Us.
“Every journey starts with that first step and if you have been slacking off or have never focused on your health or working out, you just have to throw yourself into it and get started!” he exclusively said in December 2020. “Starting small is key so you wake up the next day feeling tired and good about yourself, not crazy sore! A little sore is OK, but you don’t want to give yourself any excuses in the beginning to not keep on track.”
At the time, Wahlberg noted that he followed a variety of F45 programs.
“Shocking the body and changing up the workouts helps me keep in top shape and making improvements,” Wahlberg told Us. “I also listen to my body and rest when I need it. … It is important to keep on track with your fitness and health goals and not lose momentum and slip back into a sedentary lifestyle.”
