Shark Tank celebrity investor Daymond John has had a falling out with some of the former contestants of his hit TV show. And now he has taken legal action.
The Los Angeles Times reported on Thursday that 54-year-old John is hoping to secure a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against three people he worked with.
The trio includes Al ‘Bubba’ Baker, his wife Sabrina and daughter Brittani. They went into business with John for Bubba Q’s Boneless Baby Back Ribs, which has become a success. But the Bakers claim they have been cheated.
The Bakers have alleged that John has misled them, cheated them out of money and is trying to take their control of Bubba Q’s. They added they were not given real-time financial information.
Amid all this fighting, fans of Shark Tank are stepping in, and they are mostly siding with the Baker family as they accuse John of bad behavior and the TV show of allowing it.
He called his lawyer! Shark Tank celebrity investor Daymond John has had a falling out with former contestants Al ‘Bubba’ Baker, his wife Sabrina and daughter Brittani
His side: But Baker has claimed that John has misled them, cheated them out of money and is trying to take their control of Bubba Q’s. They added they were not given real-time financial information
The Barkers appeared on Shark Tank during season five in 2013.
John’s spokesperson countered that the Baker family is trying to ‘undermine a business partnership and the legal parameters they agreed to four years ago.
‘After repeated attempts to give the Baker’s the ability to correct their violations. It is unfortunate that it has come to this,’ Zach Rosenfield claimed in the statement.
‘This temporary restraining order is due to the Baker’s blatant actions to undermine a business partnership and the legal parameters they agreed to 4 years ago. Their belief that they can unwind poor business decisions through slanderous social media posts and articles will no longer be tolerated.’
On Shark Tank, the Bakers presented their idea for boneless baby back ribs that had been cooked in advance.
John invested in the idea and the company has since brought in $16million. The Bakers claim they have seen only four percent of the revenue, which is $640,000.
It is not known where the rest of the money – over $15 million – went.
Meanwhile, the fans are rumbling: Amid all this fighting, fans of Shark Tank are stepping in, and they are mostly siding with the Baker family as they accuse John of bad behavior and the TV show of allowing it
On the show: Baker and his family was on Shark Tank during season five in 2013
Say what? They alleged that John offered $300,000 for 30 percent of the company when they were on the show. Then they claim that off camera John said that the deal was $100,000 for 35 percent of the company
Now they have taken to social media to complain about John. They argue its their right to vent, while John calls it slander.
The problem began in 2013, claim the Bakers.
They alleged that John offered $300,000 for 30 percent of the company when they were on the show.
Then they claim that off camera John said that the deal was $100,000 for 35 percent of the company.
The manufacturer is Rastelli Foods Group, which has also reportedly looked into a restraining order against the Bakers.
The family talked to the Los Angeles Times during an investigation which is where they complained they have received little of the profits.
But their case has not gone very far.
A case was dismissed by a federal judge in New Jersey without prejudice, citing jurisdictional issues, even though the family claimed John had caused ‘irreparable harm’ adding that appearing on the ABC reality TV show has become a ‘nightmare.’
There is also a patent in the wings that is about to expire, causing more stress for the family.
Roadblock: The family talked to the Los Angeles Times during an investigation which is where they complained they have received little of the profits. But their case has not gone very far. A case was dismissed by a federal judge in New Jersey without prejudice, citing jurisdictional issues
Their little one: The Baker family told the Times they have a right to air their frustrations on social media: ‘Sharing our experience on social media is an honest and truthful account of our journey. We firmly believe that the truth is in the best interest of the public’
John has been vocal about how much he dislikes the Baker family talking poorly of him.
John has insisted the family stop making defamatory remarks against him, according to the LA Times.
‘The journalist, I believe the underlying issue here is, did not understand business as well as I would have liked her to,’ John alleged, placing blame on the LA Times writer.
The Baker family told the Times they have a right to air their frustrations on social media: ‘Sharing our experience on social media is an honest and truthful account of our journey. We firmly believe that the truth is in the best interest of the public.’
They also claim that John and the Rastelli Foods Group refuse to answer them.
Meanwhile, John has argued that the Bakers’ actions are a ‘malicious smear campaign.’
Now Shark Tank fans are getting involved, according to the Times, and demanding John respond to the claims made by the Bakers.
Many fans are siding with the Bakers and accusing the show of promoting bad behavior due in part to their name.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk