Bad Faith Fallout

A gospel promoter in North Carolina is being grilled by potential sponsors about a charity event he’s involved with because of a disgraced promoter’s bad press for allegedly skipping out on concert expenses in other cities.

Frank Bell told television station WXII-TV that reports about Wade Weaver, owner of Heaven Bound Talent Agency in Murphy, N.C., and his reported history of unpaid bills has business owners questioning Bell’s efforts to promote a charity gospel show at a local church in April.

Bell said his requests for sponsorship donations aren’t being turned down but business owners are grilling him about the event’s details.

Charges against Weaver claiming he took money for a fictitious concert in Burlington were dropped March 5 reportedly after police learned that Weaver had changed venues.

Burlington officers arrested the alleged con man after receiving complaints from two business owners who’d given Weaver, who appeared professional to those involved, $100 each toward paying for a concert planned for the Glen Hope Baptist Church. The church pastor reportedly canceled the arrangement after reading about Weaver’s checkered past in the news.

The Heaven Bound owner maintains his innocence, telling WXII-TV the situation was “blown out of proportion” and that anyone complaining about non-payment is just being greedy.