Former WWE Employee Alleges Sexual Abuse and Trafficking by Vince McMahon
In a shocking turn of events, a former employee of WWE has filed a lawsuit against founder Vince McMahon, accusing him of sexual abuse and exploitation during his tenure as CEO of the wrestling-entertainment company. The plaintiff, Janel Grant, claims that McMahon not only abused her but also trafficked her to other men as a means to secure talent deals with prospective wrestlers.
The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, also names WWE and former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis as defendants. Grant alleges that McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE violated the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act and subjected her to years of sexual and emotional abuse, resulting in civil battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a declaratory judgment that a nondisclosure agreement Grant signed while employed by WWE is void and unenforceable. Representatives for WWE and McMahon have yet to respond to the allegations.
TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of WWE and UFC, released a statement acknowledging the seriousness of Grant’s allegations and stating that they are addressing the matter internally. It is worth noting that TKO recently signed a lucrative 10-year deal with Netflix for WWE’s “Monday Night Raw,” further solidifying the franchise’s success.
This lawsuit comes on the heels of McMahon stepping down as WWE’s CEO in June 2022 amidst an investigation into alleged hush-money payments made to women who accused him of sexual misconduct. The company disclosed that McMahon had made payments totaling $19.6 million dating back to 2007 in relation to these allegations. McMahon later returned to the company as executive chairman in January 2023 to lead efforts to sell WWE.
According to Grant’s lawsuit, McMahon and Laurinaitis engaged in sexual assault and trafficking on WWE property using company funds. The suit alleges that McMahon used sex toys named after other WWE employees, wrestlers, and performers to groom Grant for trafficking purposes. Grant claims that McMahon showered her with gifts and empty work promotions while simultaneously threatening her livelihood and reputation if she did not comply with his increasingly depraved sexual demands.
The lawsuit also states that after McMahon’s wife discovered his relationship with Grant, Grant was pressured to resign from WWE and forced to sign a nondisclosure agreement. McMahon promised to protect her financially and reputationally, offering her $3 million. However, he later refused to make payments to Grant, accusing her of leaking information to the press. Grant received $1 million from McMahon in February 2022 but did not receive any further payments.
Grant alleges that she and McMahon lived in the same apartment building and met in March 2019. Following their physical relationship, Grant was given an entry-level position as an “administrator-coordinator” in WWE’s legal department. In March 2021, she was transferred to the talent relations department, reporting to Laurinaitis.
During McMahon’s tenure as CEO and Grant’s employment as an entry-level coordinator, McMahon allegedly recruited individuals to have sexual relations with Grant and directed her to visit Laurinaitis for sexual encounters. The lawsuit claims that McMahon expected and directed Grant to engage in sexual activity at WWE headquarters, even during working hours.
One particularly disturbing incident cited in the lawsuit occurred on May 9, 2020, when McMahon allegedly defecated on Grant during a threesome and commanded her to continue pleasuring his friend while covered in feces. Another incident took place in June 2021 when McMahon and Laurinaitis sexually assaulted Grant inside Laurinaitis’ office at WWE’s headquarters. The lawsuit describes how the two men cornered her, forcibly touched her, and ultimately put her on a table between them while restraining her.
Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant, issued a statement expressing her client’s hope that the lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. She also called for WWE to take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership, citing McMahon’s history of depraved behavior.
This lawsuit against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE sheds light on a dark side of the wrestling industry and raises important questions about the treatment of employees and the responsibility of companies to address allegations of abuse. As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen how WWE and its executives will respond to these serious accusations.