YouTuber Connor Franta has initiated legal proceedings against his business collaborators at Heard Well, accusing them of embezzling over $1 million from the company. Franta, who co-founded the influencer-focused music label in 2015, claims his partners misused company funds for personal luxuries, while the accused deny these allegations.
The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, names Jeremy Wineberg, a co-founder of Heard Well, and highlights his use of an American Express Black Card for personal purchases such as travel and concert tickets. The suit states that Wineberg systematically depleted company resources, transferring them to settle personal expenses. Another key figure in the allegations is Andrew Graham, Franta’s former agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Although it is claimed that Graham was less involved than Wineberg, the lawsuit accuses him of diverting company funds for personal purposes as well.
In his complaint, Franta also targets Lindsay Wineberg & Associates, managed by Jeremy Wineberg’s father. The firm, responsible for business management and accounting for Heard Well, is accused of turning a blind eye to the alleged misconduct, thus facilitating the financial discrepancies. “The lawsuit filed by Connor Franta is without merit,” said Bryan Sullivan, representing Jeremy Wineberg and Lindsay Wineberg & Associates. Sullivan insists there was no wrongdoing by his clients and expresses confidence in their eventual vindication in court.
John Shenk, legal counsel for Andrew Graham, has also stated that his client denies the allegations and looks forward to resolving the matter legally. Publicly, Franta distanced himself from previous associations with Graham and CAA, clarifying that neither are involved in his ongoing legal strategy.
Despite the turmoil, the official Heard Well Instagram account remains active, although Franta reports being blocked from accessing the company’s social media. The lawsuit follows Franta’s discovery earlier this year that Heard Well was behind on royalty payments, an issue brought to light by a YouTube video alleging the company of fraudulent activities.
Connor Franta, who boasts over a decade of presence on YouTube and authorship of a memoir, invested alongside his co-founders to kickstart Heard Well, which has since released multiple albums. Nevertheless, the complaint suggests Franta has seen minimal financial returns throughout the company’s operations.
As the case unfolds, Connor Franta remains determined to seek justice and accountability from his business partners at Heard Well. The lawsuit not only highlights potential breaches of trust in business relationships but also serves as a reminder of the vigilance necessary in managing collaborative ventures in the influencer-driven market.
Source: Businessinsider – Instagram
