YouTuber and entrepreneur Connor Franta has filed a lawsuit against his former business partners at Heard Well, a music label he co-founded in 2015, accusing them of stealing over $1 million from the company. The lawsuit, filed this week in California Superior Court, also names the company’s business manager, alleging that he ignored the alleged theft.
The suit claims that Heard Well cofounder Jeremy Wineberg used the company’s American Express Black Card to cover personal expenses, including travel, concert tickets, tattoos, groceries, and even plastic surgery. Franta alleges that Wineberg “systematically looted” the company, using its funds to pay off the credit card balances.
Wineberg and his lawyer have denied the allegations, asserting that the claims are false. Similarly, Andrew Graham, another cofounder of Heard Well and Franta’s former agent at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), is accused of using company funds for personal expenses. Graham, who no longer represents Franta, also faces accusations of converting thousands of dollars in Heard Well’s earnings for his own use.
The lawsuit claims that these actions led to the company’s financial instability, leaving Heard Well with little to no profit. Franta, who claims he hardly received any money from the company over the years, is seeking legal action to recover the funds he alleges were misappropriated.
Accusations of Mismanagement and Theft
The core of Franta’s lawsuit centers around what he describes as gross financial mismanagement by Wineberg and Graham. According to the complaint, the two cofounders treated the company’s funds as a “personal piggy bank,” funneling money into their own pockets without regard for Heard Well’s operations. The suit also accuses Lindsay Wineberg & Associates, the management firm run by Wineberg’s father, of negligence, claiming they allowed over $1 million to be misused without taking action to stop it.
In the legal documents, Franta outlines how he and his partners initially invested $2,000 each to start Heard Well, which launched with a focus on releasing music in collaboration with influencers. The company has since released dozens of albums, but Franta claims that despite the label’s success, he “hardly saw a dime of profit” from its activities.
Franta became aware of the alleged mismanagement earlier this year, after a YouTube video accused the company of scamming artists and partners. The lawsuit also claims that Franta discovered that Heard Well had fallen behind on royalty payments, raising further concerns about the financial integrity of the business.
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Legal Denials and Defenses
In response to the accusations, both Wineberg and Graham have denied any wrongdoing. Bryan Sullivan, Jeremy Wineberg’s attorney, stated that his client did not engage in any illegal activities. Similarly, John Shenk, the lawyer for Graham, told Business Insider that Graham will defend himself in court. Graham also confirmed that he no longer represents Franta, and that CAA is no longer involved with the company.
Franta has also alleged that he has been blocked from accessing Heard Well’s social media accounts, which he claims further complicates his ability to manage or protect the business. In a statement to Business Insider, Franta emphasized his commitment to integrity and respect in all his professional endeavors, especially when working with fellow creators.
“Acting with integrity and respect in all my professional endeavors – especially with fellow creators – has always been a top priority for me,” Franta said. “Although this issue had only recently come to light, I took immediate action this week to protect the company and to facilitate its pursuit of all necessary and appropriate legal remedies.”
The Future of Heard Well and Franta’s Role
Franta’s legal action signals a significant shift in the future of Heard Well, a company that has existed for nearly a decade. Despite its successes, including the release of multiple albums, Franta claims that he was largely excluded from the company’s profits. He believes the financial mismanagement has left Heard Well in a precarious position, and he is now seeking to reclaim the money he alleges was wrongfully taken.
While the lawsuit is ongoing, the allegations have raised questions about the inner workings of influencer-driven businesses and the challenges of managing financial and legal relationships in the digital age. As Heard Well’s future remains uncertain, Franta’s efforts to take legal action suggest that he intends to hold those responsible for the alleged theft accountable, regardless of the company’s past successes.
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Franta, known for his YouTube channel with 4.8 million subscribers and his book A Work in Progress, co-founded Heard Well in 2015 with an initial investment of $2,000 each. Since then, the company has worked with influencers to release music, but Franta claims his involvement in the business has been financially unfruitful.
The legal battle between Franta and his former business partners at Heard Well is far from over. The accusations of financial misconduct and mismanagement have cast a shadow over the company’s operations, and Franta’s legal action could lead to significant changes in how the business is run moving forward.
While the case proceeds through the courts, Franta is focused on seeking justice and recovering what he claims was unlawfully taken from him and the company. The outcome of the lawsuit could not only impact the future of Heard Well but also send a broader message about financial accountability and the complexities of business partnerships in the influencer-driven entertainment world.
For now, Franta is committed to protecting the integrity of his work and ensuring that he and others in the industry are treated fairly. As he stated, his commitment to integrity remains a top priority, especially in navigating these legal and financial challenges.
