Vince McMahon retired from his role as WWE Chairman and CEO in 2022.
A former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) employee has accused company co-founder and former longtime chairman Vince McMahon of sex trafficking, sexual harassment and paying her to keep quiet, in a lawsuit filed on Thursday. According to Washington Post, Janelle Grant filed the lawsuit in Connecticut, USA. In court documents, she alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Mr. McMahon when he was WWE’s chief executive officer (CEO). He also described “psychological torture and physical violence” inflicted on him by the former WWE President.
According to PostMs Grant, who worked for WWE from June 2019 to March 2022, has claimed that Mr McMahon pressured her into a sexual relationship with the promise of professional opportunities after meeting him for the first time in March 2019. She also alleged that the 78-year-old attempted to traffic her to other men “as pawns to secure talent deals” with potential wrestlers being recruited by the company. The document says he would intimidate her with threats of revenge porn and make “abusive sexual demands” in exchange for her continued employment.
Ms Grant said Mr McMahon was fired from his job after his wife, Linda McMahon, discovered the affair. She also claimed that she was later pressured to sign a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for $3 million.
Ms. Grant’s attorney said in a statement, “Today’s complaint seeks to hold accountable the two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janelle Grant, as well as the organization itself, Who encouraged abuse or turned a blind eye to it and then suppressed it.” , according to the outlet.
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“She is an incredibly private and courageous person who has suffered deeply at the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis. Ms. Grant hopes her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. The organization is well-versed in Mr. McMahon’s history. Is aware of the misconduct, and now the time has come for them to take responsibility for the misconduct of their leadership,” the lawyer said.
The lawsuit accuses WWE, Mr. McMahon and WWE’s former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis of sex trafficking, negligence, civil battery and infliction of emotional distress. Ms Grant is seeking to void her non-disclosure agreement, which she said she signed in 2022.
Meanwhile, according to huff postA spokesman for Mr. McMahon has denied the allegations. “This lawsuit is filled with lies, obscene fabrications about events that never happened, and a vindictive distortion of the truth,” the statement said. “He will vigorously defend himself,” it said.
Notably, Mr. McMahon retired from his role as WWE Chairman and CEO in July 2022 after he and Mr. Laurinaitis were accused of sexual misconduct.
