WWE Faces Scandal as Ex-Employee Files Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Abuse
Former WWE employee Janel Grant has filed a federal lawsuit, alleging significant sexual misconduct on the part of former executives Vince McMahon and another.
The lawsuit, filed in US District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is headquartered, spans 67 pages and contains graphic allegations.
Grant, who worked in the company’s legal and talent departments, alleges that McMahon, now 78, coerced her into a sexual relationship as a condition for employment and promotion within the company.
Furthermore, she claims McMahon distributed pornographic material featuring her to other men, including WWE employees.
The lawsuit also names John Laurinaitis, WWE’s former head of talent relations and general manager, as a defendant. Grant’s representatives, despite the norm of anonymity in sexual assault cases, have opted to make her identity public.
The goal of Ms. Grant’s complaint, according to her lawyer Ann Callis, is to stop other women from becoming victims. She also stressed the importance of accountability inside the company.
Alleged Disturbing Behavior in WWE
WWE’s parent company, TKO Group, has responded, affirming that they are taking the allegations seriously. However, they assert that McMahon does not oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE.
The lawsuit outlines a disturbing pattern of behavior allegedly exhibited by McMahon. Grant claims that McMahon, living in the same building, offered her a job at WWE following the death of her parents. However, she alleges that he made it clear that her employment was contingent upon engaging in a physical relationship with him and later with Laurinaitis and others.
Moreover, the suit asserts that McMahon offered one of his star wrestlers the opportunity for sexual relations with Grant as a perk in 2021, benefiting financially from what is described as a commercial sex act venture.
Grant is seeking unspecified monetary damages and aims to invalidate a $3 million nondisclosure agreement, of which she claims to have received only $1 million
Vince McMahon, a towering figure in the world of wrestling, has been at the helm of WWE for decades. The allegations against him shed light on a darker side of the wrestling industry, one that Grant and her legal team are determined to address through legal action.
