STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Pro wrestling icon Vince McMahon is facing a federal lawsuit after a former employee accuses him and another former executive of gross sexual misconduct, including soliciting sex from the star wrestler. He resigned from WWE's parent company on Friday, a day after his death.
Mcmahon He has stepped down as chairman of the board of WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, according to a statement released late Friday. He continued to deny his wrongdoing even after a lawsuit was filed by Janelle Grant, who worked in the company's legal and human resources departments.
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon, now 78, coerced Grant into sexual relations in order to get and keep her job and distributed pornographic photos and videos of her to other men, including other WWE employees. Contains the allegation.
The Associated Press typically does not publish the names of accusers in sexual assault cases, but a representative for Ms. Grant said she would like to do so. Her attorney declined to comment Friday.
Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon and Triple H attend the UFC 276 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 2, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
McMahon said in a statement that he is “respectfully” resigning from the board. WWE and TKO Group.
Mr. McMahon resigns Will be appointed CEO of WWE in 2022 investigation of suspicion This is consistent with the lawsuit filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the state of Connecticut, home of WWE.
McMahon was the leader. The most recognizable face in WWE for decades. When he bought the then World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, wrestling matches were held in small venues and broadcast on local cable channels. WWE matches are currently held at professional sports stadiums, and the organization has a sizable following overseas as well.
WWE merged in April of last year. Mr. McMahon, who partnered with the company behind Ultimate Fighting Championship to create the $21.4 billion sports and entertainment company TKO Group Holdings, served as chairman of the group's board until Friday.
A representative from TKO Group referred media inquiries regarding Mr. McMahon's resignation to his statement. deadline It was first reported that he was resigning.
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO and does not oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” TKO Group said earlier this week. “While this matter predates the tenure of our TKO management team, we take Mr. Grant's horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
Grant also names WWE and former professional wrestler John Laurinaitis, the company's head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants in the suit. WWE and Laurinaitis did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon speaks at a press conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES held at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas on January 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and offered to offer Grant a job with WWE after his parents died in 2019, according to the complaint.
She claims that he eventually revealed that one of the job requirements was physical contact with him and later with Laurinaitis and others.
Over the next few years, Mr. McMahon lavished her with gifts, including a luxury car, the complaint says.
McMahon also alleges that in 2021, he offered one of his star wrestlers (who is not named in the lawsuit) sex with Grant as a bonus.
“WWE benefited financially from the commercial sex enterprise orchestrated by McMahon, including forcing wrestling talent, including WWE Superstars, to sign new contracts with WWE after McMahon presented Plaintiffs as sexual products.” ” the complaint states.
Grant is asking for unspecified monetary damages and for the court to void a $3 million non-disclosure agreement, of which she claims she only received $1 million.
“Ms. Grant does not want other women to be harmed by this lawsuit,” Grant's attorney, Ann Callis, said in a statement Thursday. “The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon's history of corrupt behavior, and the time has come to hold the organization's leadership accountable for its misconduct.”
