‘Shark Tank’ host files restraining order against ex-contestants.

“Shark Tank” Host Seeks Restraining Order Against Former Contestants

Reality TV isn’t always as real as it seems, and a recent controversy involving a business deal from the popular celebrity investment show “Shark Tank” is a sobering reminder of that fact. The show features wealthy celebrity investors listening to pitches and choosing whether or not to invest in a product, with big names like Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary on the rotating panel. Fashion mogul Daymond John is another frequent investor, and his portfolio includes “Bubba’s Q Boneless Baby Back Ribs.”

However, things have turned ugly between John and the family in charge of “Bubba’s.” According to the Los Angeles Times, John is seeking a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against Al “Bubba” Baker, his daughter Brittani, and his wife Sabrina. John wants them to stop maligning the “Shark Tank” show, as they have been doing after a Times investigation where the Bakers revealed that the investment show was a “nightmare.”

The Bakers appeared on Season 5 of “Shark Tank,” where they ultimately opted to take a business deal with John over O’Leary. Since then, things have reportedly deteriorated to the point of toxicity. The Bakers claim that the on-air offer of $300,000 for 30 percent of the company was “later revised” to reflect a $100,000 investment for a 35 percent stake, a stark drop in value. They also allege that Al Baker had been excluded from key business meetings and intentionally left in the dark. Further, the Bakers claim that they’ve only seen about $659,000 (or four percent) of the publicly stated $16 million in revenue the business has generated since John invested in it.

Baker has specifically expressed disappointment in John as a fellow black man in America. “I was super proud of my relationship [with John],” Baker told the Times. “I just never expected economic marginalism from another African American.”

Business Since #SharkTank has been a nightmare saddened to find out we aren’t the only small business affected by this. You can find our story on https://t.co/1IhZ44owzC. The follow-up story on https://t.co/irYqebwFfr #WHERESTHEMONEY? #SharkTank #contactFTC #smallbiznessesmatter pic.twitter.com/obwnrYjcX9

— Al “Bubba” Baker (@Bubbasq60) June 2, 2023

Baker has also used his Twitter to disparage the show, repeating the claims of it being a “nightmare.” John and his associates are seeking to squelch that sort of commentary, per the Times.

The restraining order and injunction that John is seeking against the Bakers comes on the heels of a federal judge in New Jersey throwing out the Bakers’ complaints against John and “Shark Tank.”

Despite the drama, “Shark Tank” remains a popular show, and viewers continue to tune in to see which products will make it big and which investors will come out on top.