‘Shark Tank’ star and celebrity investor Daymond John has been granted a temporary restraining order against three former contestants he did business with through the show after he was repeatedly bullied on social media over his alleged ‘nightmare’ experience, according to court documents.
Under Friday’s order in New Jersey federal court, former NFL defensive end Al “Bubba” Baker, his wife Sabrina and their daughter Brittani are now barred from speaking publicly about their experience with John following his 2014 appearance on the ABC reality show.
The bakers, who created Bubba’s Q boneless back ribs, must also remove ‘derogatory’ posts on social media detailing their business relationship with the celebrity investor and accusing him of trying to take over their entity, the ruling states.
“Any message from the Bakers is negative, derogatory or both and could certainly affect the reputation, goodwill and credibility of DFV and John,” U.S. District Judge Robert Kugler wrote in his ruling, referring to the DF Ventures entity John created to do business with the family.
“These messages have clearly damaged reputations which John will now have to manage and counter.”
The lawsuit against the Bakers came after the alleged Los Angeles Times family earlier this year duped John and his associates, tried to take over their business, and deprived them of profits as a result of the show.
The Bakers, who appeared on the fifth season of “Shark Tank,” had accepted an on-air offer from John for a $300,000 investment for 30% of their boneless rib business.
They claimed the offer was later revised off the air to $100,000 for a greater than 35% stake.
In a slew of social media posts, the family took aim at John, accusing him, in part, of being an unreliable businessman.
The judge questioned the Bakers’ motives, writing in his decision that the court could only conclude that the family was not doing this “to try to improve the business.”
“Instead, the Bakers’ enmity, antipathy, and animosity toward John, DFV, and the Rastellis outweighed their personal financial interest and their ability to reasonably resolve their issues with John, DFV, and the Rastellis,” Kugler wrote.
Rastelli Foods Group is the meat manufacturer that the bakers selected to do business with them and John.
“Today’s decision against the bakers, their business and their misrepresentations is a moment of vindication,” John said in a statement.
“The actual facts, the file and the opinion of the federal judge confirmed that I did not commit, nor could I have committed, any crime. I have always defended transparency and honesty throughout my career as an entrepreneur.
“I am grateful for the support I have received during this time and will continue to uphold my reputation with the same passion that I bring to empower my fellow entrepreneurs.”
The ruling makes permanent a temporary restraining order against the bakers that was granted by the judge last month.
