*Set off Warning: This text incorporates dialogue of sexual assault and rape*
Former WWE expertise Ashley Massaro had unveiled what occurred to her at a navy base in Kuwait and that WWE has coated it up. The late Massaro, who tragically handed away in 2019, had an affidavit that was made public the place she alleged WWE coated up that she was sexually assaulted whereas on a navy base in 2007.
WWE had put out an announcement at the moment that nobody together with Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Kevin Dunn, or another administration knew concerning the incident or requested the expertise to maintain it coated up.
In keeping with the report by Vice:
In a sworn affidavit her lawyer launched in 2019, after her loss of life, former wrestler Ashley Massaro mentioned that she was injected with a paralyzing drug and raped by somebody representing himself as a U.S. Military physician whereas on tour with WWE in Kuwait in 2006. Massaro additionally mentioned that prime executives on the firm, together with McMahon and Laurinaitis, instructed her to not speak concerning the incident and agreed to not speak about it themselves, partly to protect the corporate’s relationship with the navy.
“He instructed me to not let one dangerous expertise damage the great work they have been doing,” Massaro mentioned of McMahon within the affidavit.
VICE Information can report for the primary time that the Naval Felony Intelligence Service opened an investigation into Massaro’s allegations in June 2019. That investigation was closed in January 2020, in accordance with an NCIS spokesperson. Additional data, they mentioned, couldn’t be instantly launched, as it could must be obtained beneath the Freedom of Info Act.
“I’m not stunned by any of it,” London mentioned of the latest claims in opposition to McMahon on a podcast launched final week. He in contrast WWE to NXVIM, the cult led by now-convicted intercourse trafficker Keith Raniere.
Now, among the many new lawsuit in opposition to McMahon and Laurinaitis on alleged intercourse trafficking from former worker Janel Grant – the lawyer for John Laurinaitis objected to using the time period “cover-up,” however confirmed that Laurinaitis knew concerning the allegations from Massaro. And now mentioned “most higher stage administration” was conscious which is after all is contradictory to their prior declare.
“Any allegations that Mr. Laurinaitus helped to cowl up an alleged rape allegation is an outright lie,” wrote Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, in response to questions on Massaro’s allegations. “Johnny, like most higher stage administration at someday turned conscious of the allegations and ensured all correct WWE protocols have been adopted, together with privateness for the alleged sufferer. We object to using the time period cowl up as no such plan or plot ever occurred to cover or help within the alleged rape.”
A spokesperson for TKO, WWE’s mum or dad firm, declined to remark, and a lawyer mentioned to characterize McMahon didn’t reply to requests for remark. Neither McMahon nor Laurinaitis is now related to WWE, with McMahon resigning as chairman of TKO the day after the intercourse trafficking swimsuit was filed.
