Vince McMahon Accused of Abuse, Sexual Assault, and Trafficking in Federal Lawsuit Against WWE
A former WWE employee has filed a federal lawsuit against executive Vince McMahon and another former executive, alleging serious sexual misconduct, including offering her for sex to a star wrestler. The 67-page lawsuit from Janel Grant, who worked in the company’s legal and talent departments, also accuses McMahon of forcing her into a sexual relationship to obtain and retain her job. The suit further claims that McMahon circulated pornographic pictures and videos of Grant to other men, including WWE employees.
McMahon, now 78, stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid an investigation into allegations similar to those detailed in the lawsuit. The lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is based.
In addition to McMahon, the lawsuit also names WWE and John Laurinaitis, the company’s former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants.
Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, stated that her client hopes the lawsuit will prevent other women from suffering similar victimization. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership, Callis said in a statement.
TKO Group, the parent company of WWE, issued a statement affirming that they are taking the allegations seriously. However, they emphasized that McMahon does not control TKO nor oversee WWE’s day-to-day operations. While this matter predates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally, the statement read.
The lawsuit details the alleged events, stating that McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and, in 2019, offered her a job at WWE after the death of her parents. It is claimed that McMahon eventually made it clear that a physical relationship with him was a requirement for the job, as well as with Laurinaitis and others. Grant alleges that over the next few years, McMahon showered her with lavish gifts, including a luxury car.
The lawsuit also asserts that McMahon offered a star wrestler the opportunity to have sex with Grant as a perk in 2021. WWE benefited financially from the commercial sex act venture orchestrated by McMahon, including by having wrestling talent, such as WWE Superstar, sign new contracts with WWE after McMahon presented Plaintiff as a sexual commodity for their use, the lawsuit states.
Grant is seeking unspecified monetary damages and aims to have the court invalidate a $3 million nondisclosure agreement, claiming she only received $1 million from it.
Vince McMahon is a central figure in the history and growth of WWE, which he purchased from his father in 1982 when wrestling matches were held in small venues and shown on local cable channels. Under McMahon’s leadership, WWE evolved into a global phenomenon with matches taking place in professional sports stadiums and significant international followings.
McMahon currently serves as the executive chairman of the board for TKO Group Holdings, the $21.4 billion sports entertainment company created through a merger between WWE and the company that operates Ultimate Fighting Championship.
The lawsuit against McMahon and WWE raises serious allegations and shines a spotlight on the issue of sexual misconduct within the industry. As the legal proceedings progress, the outcome of the case will be closely watched by fans and industry observers alike.
Please note that the Associated Press typically does not identify accusers in sexual assault cases. However, in this instance, Janel Grant’s legal representatives have stated that she wishes to go public with her allegations.
