Vince McMahon attends a press conference at MetLife Stadium on February 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Michael N. Todaro | Getty Images
WWE manager Vince McMahon was accused Thursday of sexual assault, human trafficking, and physical and emotional abuse in graphic photos. lawsuit By a woman who previously worked for a giant in the professional wrestling world.
Janelle Grant’s lawsuit alleges that McMahon directed her to have sex with WWE “superstars” and other men, voiding a non-disclosure agreement that Grant allegedly signed with McMahon in 2022 I’m looking for. agreed to pay her $3 million as part of the deal.
According to the complaint, Mr. McMahon paid her $1 million but “no further payment.” Ms. Grant was one of several women who received compensation from Mr. McMahon over the years.
In addition to the 78-year-old McMahon, the suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, also names WWE and former head of talent relations and general manager John Laurinaitis as defendants.
The indictment alleges that federal law enforcement officers executed a search warrant against Mr. McMahon as part of an investigation into millions of dollars paid by Mr. McMahon to multiple women in response to allegations of sexual misconduct. It was filed six months after the subpoena was served.
Last March, McMahon paid WWE $17.4 million in fees related to an investigation into his compensation by a law firm owned by WWE.
WWE merged with mixed martial arts company UFC last year. Both companies are currently TKO Group Holdings.
McMahon is executive chairman of TKO’s board of directors, and TKO announced Tuesday that Netflix will be the first in a decade to stream WWE’s flagship show “Raw” and distribute all other WWE programming and specials outside of the United States. announced that it would pay $5 billion.
“Today’s complaint alleges two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janelle Grant, and who encouraged or turned a blind eye to the abuse,” Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, said in a statement. We will hold the organizations responsible for doing so and then cleaning them up.” Under the rug. ”
“She is an incredibly private and courageous person who has suffered deeply at the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis,” Mr. Callis said. “Ms. Grant hopes that no other woman will be harmed by her lawsuit. The time has come to take responsibility.”
WWE and TKO spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the complaint, McMahon befriended Grant in 2019 after hearing from the apartment manager that Grant’s parents had passed away and he was looking for a job.
Grant claims that McMahon soon pressured her into a sexual relationship, to which she succumbed.
“When Mr. McMahon pressured Ms. Grant into having a sexual relationship in exchange for her long-promised employment with WWE, she felt she was in an impossible situation. If she didn’t comply with Mr. McMahon’s sexual demands, she was doomed.” be confronted,” the complaint states.
The complaint also alleges that “given McMahon’s all-powerful position in WWE, coercion was inherent in his actions.”
increasingly depraved sexual demands; ”
“Specifically, while McMahon was CEO of WWE and Ms. Grant was employed as an entry-level coordinator in the legal department, McMahon recruited individuals to have sexual relations with Ms. Grant and/or both of them; “He directed Ms. Grant to visit Defendant Laurinaitis before the start of his shift for sexual contact and to ensure that Mr. Grant would engage in sexual acts at WWE headquarters even during work hours. expected and directed,” the complaint states.
The suit charges that McMahon was subjected to “extreme brutality and degrading behavior” which caused Grant to “desensitize himself to reality in order to survive the horrifying encounter.”
According to the complaint, in January 2022, McMahon told Grant that his wife, Linda McMahon, had found out about their relationship and that he could no longer speak to her or be in the same room with her. It is said that
In addition to seeking to invalidate the NDA, Grant’s lawsuit also alleges violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, negligence, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and civil assault.
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