Non-profit charity organization Jake’s Network of Hope recently accused Major League Wrestling talent and indie wrestler Jacob Fatu of “ghosting” the organization after he had no showed their Hits For Hope charity event this past April in Appleton, Wisconsin. The organization is also claiming that Fatu has yet to return the money he was paid for his appearance for their charity event.
In a recent interview with NBC26, Jake’s Network of Hope Director of Development Jenn Harper stated that on the day of the event, Fatu had told the organization that he had to back out of his scheduled appearance due to a family emergency and they gave him the benefit of the doubt over the situation.
“Jacob called and said that there was a family emergency. We gave him the benefit of the doubt. At Jake’s, we are 100% about family and I said, ‘if you can’t make it, that’s fine'”
In regards to the money Fatu owes to the organization, Harper stated that it was a total of $2,633 covering $1,030 for his pre-paid booking fee, $548 for a hotel room stay, $657 for his initial flight ticket, $348 for a flight change at his request, and $50 on 8×10 posters that were printed for him to sign at the event.
In regards to Fatu ghosting the organization, Harper stated:
“We rescheduled the flight that he missed originally, and about an hour after that flight took off, we were made aware from him that he wasn’t coming. After that, he ghosted us, he ghosted the production team that puts together the wrestling show, and he ghosted the person that booked him for us.”
In regards to why the organization decided to go public with their issues with Fatu, Harper stated that the decision was made after an indie promotion named Pro Wrestling KING recently went public about Fatu ghosting them and keeping the money after he had no showed an event for them on June 3rd.
Harper also stated that a major member of Fatu’s wrestling family had contacted them after they had learned about the incident and offered to make an appearance for them at their next wrestling charity event next year.