Al "Bubba" Baker, the former NFL player, is embroiled in a bitter disagreement with his business partner and Shark Tank investor, Daymond John, over the downturn in their joint barbecue rib enterprise.
Baker initiated the venture following his 2013 appearance on the popular entrepreneurial show. However, he alleges that John pocketed most of the profits and attempted to edge him out of the business.
"We've lost everything. We're tired of being silenced, sidelined, and pushed out," Baker, 66, the brains behind Bubba's Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs, asserted. During the Shark Tank episode, John offered the erstwhile Detroit Lion defensive end $300,000 for a 30% share in the business, which Baker had set up with his children. This offer was contingent on Baker securing a licensing deal with a prominent meat processor to utilize his deboning patent.
However, John revised the deal post-filming, dropping the offer to $100,000 for a 35% stake. John defended this unexpected shift, stating, "I do not buy a company off just a pitch."
Despite the changed conditions, Baker proceeded with the partnership, which also included manufacturer Rastelli Foods. By 2016, Baker's ribs had been lauded as one of the show's most significant success stories, reportedly amassing a revenue of $16 million.
During an update episode of Shark Tank, John boasted, "I believe this will potentially be my biggest deal ever!" However, Baker argues that both John and Rastelli began excluding him from crucial decisions. Baker alleges that he received a mere $659,653 — a trifling 4% of the total business revenue. "Where is the money? That's my question," Baker lamented.
In 2019, Baker was sued by Rastelli Foods and a representative for John, accusing him of failing to fulfill his obligations and attend meetings. They settled the case by paying Baker $100,000 — insufficient to cover the $171,000 in legal fees Baker is still grappling with.
John issued a statement affirming he had made no profit from the venture and subsequently filed a restraining order against Baker and his family. In addition, Rastelli sought a restraining order, maintaining that the Bakers continue to receive "fair compensation" under the settlement, which they allege Baker has violated.
In the face of a failing business and mounting legal fees, Baker has been forced to close his Ohio-based restaurant and sell his home. Now, he's attempting to dissolve his partnership with John and Rastelli, aiming to sell his deboning patent to a major pork company to get back on track. He also seeks to employ a forensic accountant to trace the money and ascertain the company's true status. Baker's ultimate goal, however, is to ensure others don't fall prey to such a situation, saying, "I'm concerned about other people coming along with their American dream and having this happen to them!"