Last week, Riptide reported the dirty details of how Shock nightclub founder Julien Manival fled to France without settling his debts. Among those he stiffed was local artist Victor-Hugo Vaca Jr.
Since our article came out, Vaca has received a series of threatening texts from Manival.
Let's just say: these are no bon mots.
According to a contract the two men signed on October 11, Vaca was hired to paint three canvases and a large mural for $10,800 at the Washington Avenue club. But Manival requested additions to the art and the total cost rose to $20,000, Vaca says.
After an initial $2,000 deposit, however, Manival only wrote one more check -- for $2,622 -- and it bounced.
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When contacted in France, Manival told Riptide that he paid Vaca $3,000. He said he considered the matter settled since Vaca finished the painting late -- a claim Vaca denies.
Starting at 3:32 am the morning after our article broke, Manival began sending a series of threatening texts and Facebook messages to Vaca. In the messages, Manival says he will pay Vaca the remaining $8,800 from the original contract on February 28, but only if the painter shuts up about the club fiasco. Here are excerpts from the back-and-forth.
Julien Manival: call me as soon as u re wake up
Manival: Victor really call me now !!!!!
Victor-hugo Vaca Jr.:
News travels fast Julien, I can not control that but you can control setting things straight by honoring your contract with me, so that when I am asked I can speak the truth, which at this point is that you have failed to pay me what you owe as per our signed contract with your signature on it...
Manival:
If i know u continue open ur big moth after we have a deal i pray for u my friend !!!!
Manival:
victor again and again u put thinks on ur wall.
I think we talked together and u agree to wait until 28 of february and stop this action ?? u can 't honor ur word u too ???
u don 't have nothing to do in ur life victor !! u need to do publicity through this kind of story ?? u don 't have nothing to speak about ur art ???? when u broke somebody victor he has nothing to loose.... i m not threathing u but really we talked together and u agree to wait i don 't understand where u want to go ??? now everybody read this article !!! what do u want from me ?? where do you want to go ???
Manival:
Continue victor or u re too stupid for understand or it s'the only way for people talk about u !!! Whatever i don t call u back until 28 i have a lot of work if u don t .... 28 if u stop u have 8800 doll if not i pay the check trhougt my attorney and we start a new game with the contract and my answer and the whole payment for nick and we go to the court !!! I m tired u fight on me and about this story !!! I want just u take ur payment and we forget each other !!! Bye
Vaca:
Get a life & stop making enemies by exploiting starving artists.
Manival:
Ok picasso now i explained to u just u wait u stop and u have the amount i think even for u it s'simple victor !!! Call u back 28 !!! Thanks
Manival:
really u continue ??? but victor u are crazy ??? why ur not stopping ??? i ll deposit a complaint throught my attorney for harassing it 's too much now !!! u re fucking crazy !!!! poor guy !!
Manival:
28 i pay u and i dont want to see u and ur bitch (assistant) again but close ur mouth or i promess to u u will have some problems really
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