Reality TV Shouldn’t Destroy Lives: Remove The Profit From Streaming Platforms
The Issue
Reality TV star Marcus Lemonis has sued 53 small business owners who appeared on his show.
CNBC’s The Profit was marketed as help for struggling businesses. Instead, dozens of former participants have testified that it left them financially damaged, publicly humiliated, and emotionally devastated.
Even the show’s own producer acknowledged the reality behind the format:
“It’s hard to make a show about a shark who takes businesses.”
— Noelle DeBruhl, Producer, The Profit
“Lemonis stole the trademark, sent cease and desist letters to all the open locations, and we had to close.” — Paul Kramer
What the Legal Record Shows
In 2025, after a five-day arbitration before a retired judge, 49 former participants testified under oath about the harm they suffered. The arbitrator found that many of their businesses were “failed, failing, or on the brink of failure as a result of their dealings with Lemonis”. And that his “disdain” and “lack of concern for the harm suffered” were on full display.
The result: an order requiring Marcus Lemonis to pay $14.1 million to 47 former participants after finding that he breached a prior settlement agreement with the intent to “silence as many people as possible” about what really happened on The Profit.
The arbitrator also found evidence that business owners subpoenaed to testify against NBC and Lemonis in a related legal matter regarding The Profit were threatened with severe financial penalties if they came forward. None ultimately testified in the other hearing.
What Business Owners Featured on The Profit Have to Say
“The show destroyed me and my life.”
— Robyn Coval
“It was the darkest time of my life.”
— Theodore Sims
“Marcus Lemonis told me the last time we met that he was going to do what he could to destroy my company. And then he did.”
— Matthew Harlow
“It went down the drain because of this show.”
— Michael Sena
Former participants have described PTSD, panic attacks, addiction relapse, family breakdown, and years of psychological harm. As many as ten individuals associated with the show have reported contemplating suicide after their involvement.
This is not a story about bad television.
It’s about real people.
Former participants described exactly what happens when this conduct goes unchecked:
“I’m powerless in this situation. I literally have no way to fight.”
— Breanne Acio
“He will continue to do this unless he’s punished.”
— Paul Kramer
NBC has known for years. Yet today, episodes are still available for purchase on major platforms — including Amazon, YouTube, Google, and Apple.
This petition urges streaming platforms to review the record and remove The Profit from paid distribution.
Reality TV should not destroy lives — especially while others continue to profit from it.
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The Issue
Reality TV star Marcus Lemonis has sued 53 small business owners who appeared on his show.
CNBC’s The Profit was marketed as help for struggling businesses. Instead, dozens of former participants have testified that it left them financially damaged, publicly humiliated, and emotionally devastated.
Even the show’s own producer acknowledged the reality behind the format:
“It’s hard to make a show about a shark who takes businesses.”
— Noelle DeBruhl, Producer, The Profit
“Lemonis stole the trademark, sent cease and desist letters to all the open locations, and we had to close.” — Paul Kramer
What the Legal Record Shows
In 2025, after a five-day arbitration before a retired judge, 49 former participants testified under oath about the harm they suffered. The arbitrator found that many of their businesses were “failed, failing, or on the brink of failure as a result of their dealings with Lemonis”. And that his “disdain” and “lack of concern for the harm suffered” were on full display.
The result: an order requiring Marcus Lemonis to pay $14.1 million to 47 former participants after finding that he breached a prior settlement agreement with the intent to “silence as many people as possible” about what really happened on The Profit.
The arbitrator also found evidence that business owners subpoenaed to testify against NBC and Lemonis in a related legal matter regarding The Profit were threatened with severe financial penalties if they came forward. None ultimately testified in the other hearing.
What Business Owners Featured on The Profit Have to Say
“The show destroyed me and my life.”
— Robyn Coval
“It was the darkest time of my life.”
— Theodore Sims
“Marcus Lemonis told me the last time we met that he was going to do what he could to destroy my company. And then he did.”
— Matthew Harlow
“It went down the drain because of this show.”
— Michael Sena
Former participants have described PTSD, panic attacks, addiction relapse, family breakdown, and years of psychological harm. As many as ten individuals associated with the show have reported contemplating suicide after their involvement.
This is not a story about bad television.
It’s about real people.
Former participants described exactly what happens when this conduct goes unchecked:
“I’m powerless in this situation. I literally have no way to fight.”
— Breanne Acio
“He will continue to do this unless he’s punished.”
— Paul Kramer
NBC has known for years. Yet today, episodes are still available for purchase on major platforms — including Amazon, YouTube, Google, and Apple.
This petition urges streaming platforms to review the record and remove The Profit from paid distribution.
Reality TV should not destroy lives — especially while others continue to profit from it.
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Petition created on January 7, 2026