Jacob Fatu Charity Scandal: Everything You Need To Know

WWE star Jacob Fatu has reportedly apologised to Jake's Network of Hope over monies allegedly owed to the charity, though he is yet to reimburse the group.

This is per a Jake's Network of Hope representative, who told Sports Illustrated that the matter is being dealt with privately - and began with a "heartfelt apology" from Fatu to the charity in May.

“Jacob Fatu and our organization are addressing this matter privately, beginning with a phone call and heartfelt apology back in May," said the representative. "While the full amount owed hasn’t yet been repaid, we appreciated Jacob’s acknowledgment. It can be tough to face up to your wrongdoings, and we commend him for taking steps toward confronting his.”

The issue dates back to June 2023, when Fatu allegedly took advance payments from two indie promotions, Pro Wrestling King and Frontline Pro Wrestling, but no-showed the bookings. Pro Wrestling King later confirmed that Jacob had reimbursed the money. Frontline, who were not reimbursed, were running their show in aid of Jake's Network of Hope.

WWE's Jacob Fatu Still To Reimburse Charity After 2023 No-Show

Though the alleged no-show incident is over a year old, it returned to wrestling discourse via a Reddit post asking if Fatu had returned the money on November 3. Somebody associated with the charity via their spouse responded that Jacob had not. The situation grew from there, with Sports Illustrated and PWInsider before receiving confirmation from Jake's Network of Hope that the matter was at hand.

Fatu had briefly deactivated his Twitter account as the story started doing the rounds again, though he has since returned to the platform.

Jake's Network of Hope had previously asked Fatu to return the $2,633 owed for his non-appearance at Frontline Pro Wrestling. As with Pro Wrestling King, Jacob did not board flights booked for him, citing a family emergency as the reason behind his non-appearance.

Ultimately, this regrettable situation was bound to resurface in public discourse following Fatu's surge in visibility as a WWE star. The 32-year-old signed with the market-leading wrestling promotion in April 2024, debuting two months later through the era-defining Bloodline storyline, in which he has stood out in his role as Solo Sikoa's dangerous enforcer. Whatever his reasons for not repaying the monies owed earlier, it would be in his best interests to resolve the matter.