Vince McMahon, the head of WWE, is entangled in a scandalous lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, a former employee, accusing him of sexual assault, trafficking, and emotional abuse. The graphic lawsuit details McMahon’s alleged direction for Grant to engage in sexual activities, seeking to nullify a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) she claims to have made with McMahon in 2022, with an agreed payment of $3 million.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, also implicates WWE and John Laurinaitis, the former head of talent relations and general manager. This legal action comes six months after McMahon was served a grand jury subpoena and faced a federal investigation into his payments to multiple women following sexual misconduct allegations.
Grant’s lawsuit asserts that McMahon, despite paying her $1 million, failed to fulfill the agreed-upon $3 million. McMahon had previously paid WWE $17.4 million in March 2022 to cover expenses related to an internal investigation into these payouts.
The complaint claims that McMahon befriended Grant in 2019 after learning about her parents’ death and her job search. Allegedly pressuring her into a sexual relationship, the suit describes McMahon’s actions as coercive, given his powerful position within WWE.
The lawsuit contends that McMahon, as CEO of WWE, orchestrated sexual encounters for Grant, including directing her to visit Laurinaitis for such purposes. McMahon’s alleged actions are described as causing “extreme cruelty and degradation,” leading Grant to become “numb to reality.”
Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, emphasizes the lawsuit’s goal to hold accountable WWE executives for sexual assault and trafficking. Callis states, “Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized.”
The lawsuit seeks to void the NDA and includes allegations of violations of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, negligence, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and civil battery. Both WWE and TKO, the company that owns WWE, have not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting.
The scandal surrounding Vince McMahon adds a significant layer of controversy to the wrestling mogul’s legacy, as the legal proceedings unfold amid ongoing conversations about accountability and transparency in the entertainment industry.
