WWE Founder Vince McMahon Sued for Alleged Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
A former employee of WWE, Janel Grant, has filed a lawsuit against founder Vince McMahon, alleging he abused and sexually exploited her while he was CEO of the wrestling entertainment company. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that McMahon trafficked her to other men as a pawn to secure talent deals.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, names McMahon, WWE, and former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis as defendants.
It accuses McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE of violating the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act and includes claims of civil battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress related to the years-long sexual and emotional abuse Grant said she endured as an employee of WWE.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages as well as a declaratory judgment that a non-disclosure agreement Grant signed while she was a WWE employee is void and unenforceable and does not bar any of Plaintiff’s claims against Defendants McMahon and WWE.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon created an entry-level position for Grant in WWE’s legal department and later transferred her to the talent relations department, where she reported to Laurinaitis.
The filing alleges that both McMahon and Laurinaitis engaged in sexual assault and trafficking of Grant using WWE property and funding.
The lawsuit also details disturbing instances of sexual abuse and exploitation, including McMahon allegedly using sex toys named after other WWE employees, wrestlers, and performers to sexually groom Grant for trafficking.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC, said, “Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. 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 lawsuit comes in the wake of a 10-year deal between TKO and Netflix for WWE’s “Monday Night Raw” valued at $500 million per year, as well as Dwayne Johnson joining the TKO Group Holdings board and gaining ownership of the trademarked name “The Rock.”
McMahon, who stepped down as WWE’s CEO in June 2022 amid an investigation into alleged hush-money payments to women who accused him of sexual misconduct, has faced previous allegations of misconduct and made substantial payments related to alleged misconduct.
In addition, McMahon returned to the company in January 2023 as executive chairman to lead efforts to sell WWE, with the company last year merging with UFC to form TKO Group Holdings.
Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant, said in a statement, “Today’s complaint seeks to hold accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janel Grant, as well as the organization that facilitated or turned a blind eye to the abuse and then swept it under the rug.”
Grant’s lawsuit against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. As the legal process unfolds, the allegations against McMahon and WWE could have significant implications for the future of the wrestling entertainment company.
