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Vince McMahon Faces Sexual Trafficking Allegations in Lawsuit by Former WWE
Vince McMahon, the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), is facing serious allegations of sexual trafficking and assault in a lawsuit filed by a former employee, Janel Grant, in a Connecticut district court.
Grant accuses McMahon of pressuring her into a physical relationship and using her to attract wrestling talent by trafficking her to other men.
She alleges that McMahon expected and directed her to engage in sexual activity at WWE headquarters, even during working hours.
The lawsuit also implicates John Laurinaitis, WWE’s former head of talent, as a defendant.
Grant claims that both McMahon and Laurinaitis sexually assaulted her at WWE headquarters in June 2021.
According to Grant, McMahon pressured her into resigning from WWE and signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) after his wife discovered their relationship in 2022.
Grant asserts that she felt trapped “in an impossible situation” – either submitting to McMahon’s demands or facing ruin.
The legal case challenges the NDA under federal law, specifically the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act.
Grant is seeking to invalidate the NDA and is pursuing unspecified monetary damages.
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In response, McMahon’s spokesperson dismissed the allegations, stating that the case is “replete with lies.” The spokesperson asserts that McMahon will vigorously defend himself against the accusations.
WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, released a statement emphasizing that McMahon does not control TKO and does not oversee WWE’s day-to-day operations.
While acknowledging the seriousness of Grant’s allegations, the company states that it takes the matter seriously and is addressing it internally.
This lawsuit comes after McMahon stepped back as WWE’s chair and CEO in 2022 amid sexual misconduct claims.
He was reinstated as chair a year later after WWE concluded an investigation into the allegations. Grant’s legal filing challenges the integrity of the investigation, referring to it as “a sham” and accusing WWE of attempting to “sweep the matter under the rug.”
The case adds to the legal controversies surrounding McMahon, who has been a significant figure in WWE’s growth into a global media entity.
