True-Crime Influencer MrBallen Sues Partner Over Media Empire

A popular true-crime influencer says his business partner deceptively restructured their media venture, funneled cash to his lavish drug-fueled lifestyle, blew a blockbuster deal with Amazon.com Inc., and intimidated employees into keeping quiet.

John B. Allen, known as MrBallen, is suing the ex-CEO of his content company, Nick Witters, a talent manager he brought on to run the business in 2022. Witters hid his “rampant spending, theft, drug and alcohol abuse,” and workplace harassment while using bogus hype about a nine-figure podcasting contract with Amazon to trick Allen into signing over a 40% stake, the lawsuit says.

Despite his ...