Professional wrestler John Cena is in hot water with Ford for breaching the contract to retain his 2017 Ford GT for 24 months after initial delivery. In fact, Ford is suing Cena for $500,000, citing it “has suffered additional damages and losses, including, but not limited to, loss of brand value, ambassador activity, and customer goodwill due to the improper sale.”

It might seem odd that selling a vehicle could somehow hurt an automaker, but there’s more to it. See, Ford hand-picked applicants to purchase the GT. Part of the selection process included evaluating the potential buyer’s interest in cars, ownership of other high-end vehicles, and their social reach. Basically, Ford chose buyers who would “organically” promote the GT and the Ford brand – sort of like contracting your customers to be a built-in marketing team. Ford certainly chose heavy hitters, too, including automotive legends Jay Leno and Jack Roush.

Cena didn’t even come close to the 24-month agreement. Rather, the wrestler took delivery shortly after September 23, 2017, and Ford learned of Cena’s third-party sell around October 20, 2017. When a Ford GT representative reached out to Cena, he said he sold the car and other property to cover expenses. Ford’s lawsuit claims Cena “unfairly made a large profit from the unauthorized resale flip” and seeks $500,000 in damages.

It’s unknown exactly how much profit Cena made or to whom he sold the car. We’ll keep you updated on any developments with this bizarre situation. In the meantime, check out all the details of the 2017 Ford GT or read Ford's full lawsuit here.

References

Ford GT

Read our full review on the 2017 Ford GT.

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