Wahlberg’s fitness company has been accused of “fraudulent conduct” by Beckham

David Beckham and Mark Wahlberg

David Beckham and Mark Wahlberg CREDIT: Rich Storry/Getty Images and Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage

David Beckham is reportedly suing former friend Mark Wahlberg over an £8.5million business dispute.

The footballer first became friends with the actor and fitness fanatic back in 2007, when he moved to Wahlberg’s Los Angeles neighbourhood to play for LA Galaxy.

However, Beckham is now suing Wahlberg and F45 Training, which Wahlberg partly owns, over what he claims is “fraudulent conduct” that has seen him lose millions.

As reported by The Sun, Beckham’s company DB Ventures began filing the lawsuit against F45 Training in October 2022 along with golf entrepreneur Greg Norman. The pair have now been instructed by a judge to separate their cases.

David Beckham CREDIT: Mike Marsland/Getty
Both Beckham and Norman have claimed that they were misled by F45 Training into being ambassadors, with Beckham further alleging he lost around £8.5million in stocks as they were withheld by the company before their prices plummeted.

In response, Wahlberg and his co-defendants have called Beckham’s allegations of “fradulent conduct” baseless, and have moved to dismiss the lawsuit. They have further claimed that DBVL were blaming others for their own mistakes: “The 209-page, 610-paragraph SAC [complaint] tries to make up with length what it lacks in merit.”

Wahlberg originally became a minority shareholder in F45 Training in 2019, by purchasing a stake in the company through his investment group. However, in August 2023, the company announced they had delisted from the New York Stock Exchange, due to its share price falling by 75 per cent.

NME have contacted Beckham and Wahlberg’s representatives for comment. Beckham’s representatives declined to comment.

In other news, David Beckham has shared a video of a private Spice Girls reunion for Victoria’s 50th birthday celebrations.

The footballer took to social media to share a clip of Victoria alongside Emma Bunton, Melanie C, Geri Halliwell and Mel B singing and dancing to their 1998 single ‘Stop’.