Vince McMahon, the founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), faces a lawsuit from former employee Janel Grant, accusing her of se*xual abuse, assault, and trafficking. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on January 25, 2024, details disturbing allegations against McMahon, who was CEO at the time of the incidents.
Grant’s lawsuit alleges that after meeting McMahon in March 2019, she was offered a job conditional on entering a se*xual relationship with him. The legal claim describes a pattern of coercion, including McMahon sharing explicit materials of Grant without consent and pressuring her into se*xual encounters with other executives, including WWE’s John Laurinaitis. Alleged incidents occurred at WWE headquarters and involved joint assaults.
The complaint accuses McMahon of manipulating Grant with gifts and threats to her career, culminating in her pressured resignation and a nondisclosure agreement in January 2022 after McMahon’s wife discovered the affair. Despite an initial $1 million payment, McMahon allegedly failed to make further promised payments.
Seeking to nullify the NDA, Grant’s lawsuit calls for compensatory and punitive damages, citing se*x trafficking, civil battery, emotional distress, and violations of the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act. Her legal team emphasizes the aim to hold accountable those responsible and prevent similar abuses.
McMahon, who resumed his role as WWE’s executive chairman in 2023, faces scrutiny as WWE’s majority shareholder. WWE’s response to the allegations, including the formation of a special committee, has been criticized for its handling of the investigation.
McMahon’s spokesperson has vehemently denied the claims, asserting his readiness to defend himself, while WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, asserts that they are addressing the issue internally. Laurinaitis has yet to comment on the matter.
The lawsuit against McMahon highlights a potential culture of abuse within one of the entertainment industry’s leading companies, raising significant concerns about oversight and workplace safety in WWE.
