Vince McMahon, who has dominated the world {of professional} wrestling for half a century, taking his father’s regional territory to a world worldwide phenomenon, has resigned a day after the horrific particulars of a lawsuit alleging that he sexually trafficked a feminine worker emerged.
A press release from McMahon was launched tonight:
“I stand by my prior assertion that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up cases that by no means occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the reality. I intend to vigorously defend myself towards these baseless accusations, and look ahead to clearing my identify. Nevertheless, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO enterprise and its board members and shareholders, companions and constituents, and the entire workers and Superstars who helped make WWE into the worldwide chief it’s in the present day, I’ve determined to resign from my govt chairmanship and the TKO board of administrators, successfully instantly.”
The lawsuit, filed by former WWE worker Janel Grant, accuses McMahon of a spread of disturbing behaviors. Grant alleges she was a sufferer of bodily and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking whereas working at WWE. The lawsuit describes McMahon recruiting folks to have intercourse with Grant at WWE headquarters and subjecting her to “acts of utmost cruelty and degradation.”
Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, acknowledged that the lawsuit goals to carry accountable the WWE executives concerned, in addition to the group itself, for facilitating or ignoring the abuse after which making an attempt to cowl it up. The lawsuit claims WWE financially benefited from a “industrial intercourse act enterprise orchestrated by McMahon” by having wrestling expertise signal new contracts after presenting Grant “as a sexual commodity for his or her use.”
McMahon, who denies the allegations, acknowledged that he’s resigning out of respect for the WWE Universe, the TKO enterprise, and its stakeholders. He expressed his intent to vigorously defend himself towards the accusations and clear his identify. The lawsuit additionally implicates John Laurinaitis, former Head of Expertise Relations at WWE.
Along with the sexual trafficking claims, the lawsuit consists of particulars of McMahon allegedly passing round sexually express photographs and movies of Ms. Grant to different males, together with WWE workers. McMahon had beforehand stepped down as WWE’s chief govt in 2022 amid comparable allegations of misconduct.
Ms. Grant is in search of compensation and goals to have a $3 million non-disclosure settlement voided, of which she alleges she acquired solely $1 million. She waived her anonymity within the hope that her lawsuit would stop different girls from being victimized. TKO Group, WWE’s father or mother firm, issued an announcement acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and acknowledged that McMahon doesn’t management TKO nor oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE.
We are going to proceed to comply with this story as extra turns into accessible.
