A lawsuit was filed on Thursday by a former personnel member of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) against the company, its founder Vince McMahon, and a former WWE executive, accusing them of engaging in sex trafficking and perpetrating abuse.
Janel Grant, previously associated with WWE, asserted in the legal action that she became “the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking at WWE.” The filing took place in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.
Ann Callis, an attorney representing Grant, stated to NBC News, “Today’s complaint seeks to hold accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janel Grant, as well as the organization that facilitated or turned a blind eye to the abuse and then swept it under the rug.”
Callis emphasized that Grant, an individual of notable privacy and courage, aims through the lawsuit to prevent the victimization of other women.
A spokesperson for McMahon dismissed the lawsuit, stating it is “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”
In response, a spokesperson for WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, asserted, “Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE. While this matter pre-dates our TKO executive team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”
John Laurinaitis, the other former executive implicated in the legal action, did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment.
The lawsuit comprises allegations of sex trafficking, civil battery, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligence.
According to the legal document, Grant encountered McMahon in March 2019, during his tenure as the company’s chief executive, where he allegedly made “career-making and life-changing promises” while engaging in increasingly inappropriate conduct towards her.
The lawsuit contends that McMahon pressured Grant for a physical relationship, offering promised employment at WWE in return. Grant purportedly felt caught in a situation where she had to either succumb to his sexual demands or face ruin.
The legal filing highlighted Grant’s fear of potential negative consequences, irrespective of her decision, and how she eventually entered into a physical relationship with McMahon, securing employment at WWE.
Despite Grant’s expressed unhappiness and attempts to end the sexual relationship, she allegedly had no prior knowledge of the extent to which it would become sordid. The lawsuit describes the psychological torture and physical violence leaving her feeling helpless, isolated, and trapped.
In 2020, McMahon allegedly shared explicit material of Grant with unnamed individuals, both within and outside the wrestling company. The lawsuit asserts that, given McMahon’s position as WWE CEO at the time and Grant’s entry-level position, coercion was inherent in his increasingly depraved sexual demands.
The legal action claims that McMahon enlisted others, including Laurinaitis, to have sexual relations with Grant. Grant was purportedly expected to engage in sexual activity at the WWE headquarters, at times during working hours.
The lawsuit further alleges that McMahon and Laurinaitis sexually assaulted Grant inside Laurinaitis’ office while she pleaded for them to stop, with other colleagues purportedly busy at their desks.
Grant contends that others at WWE were aware of the situation but actively sought to conceal the wrongdoing.
According to the lawsuit, Grant lost her employment at the company after McMahon claimed his wife discovered their relationship in January 2022. Under immense pressure, she signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) to prevent discussions about the sexual misconduct, and the lawsuit claims she eventually signed the NDA in exchange for payments that McMahon later ceased making.
The lawsuit seeks to void the NDA and requests compensatory and punitive damages. Grant also alleges that McMahon attempted to traffic her to an unnamed WWE star in March 2022.
The purported abuse and predatory behavior have left Grant “crippled, both physically and mentally,” suffering from debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the lawsuit.
WWE is accused of attempting to “sweep the matter under the rug” following media reports about McMahon’s involvement in a hush money payment scandal.
The lawsuit claims that WWE announced a special committee of its board of directors to investigate the alleged misconduct but failed to interview Grant or request any documents, despite her expressed willingness to cooperate.
The lawsuit argues that McMahon and Laurinaitis groomed and coerced Grant, while WWE facilitated efforts to keep her employed, ensuring McMahon’s continued sexual exploitation.
McMahon, also a majority shareholder, was reinstated to the company’s board last year, even after stepping down as CEO in 2022 following an investigation that revealed payments of nearly $15 million to four women over 16 years to suppress claims of sexual misconduct.