Faced with a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse and trafficking, Vince McMahon released a statement about his status with the wrestling industry “effective immediately.”
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) universe and parent company TKO Group Holdings have been plowing forward with announcements since the complete merger with the UFC in Sept. However, while a Netflix deal and a new role for “The Rock” made headlines this week, those stories were readily overshadowed by the resignation of McMahon Friday.
In a statement first reported by Deadline, more than four decades after he purchased the then-World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, McMahon announced his separation from the company while defending himself against recently filed allegations.
“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and look forward to clearing my name,” he expressed.
“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents and all of the employees and superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today,” explained McMahon, “I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately.”
The decision came swiftly after former WWE staffer Janel Grant had filed suit Thursday alleging she “was the victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.”
As had previously been covered, Grant began employment as an “administrator-coordinator” at WWE in June 2019 in need of gainful employment after the death of her parents, and alleged that soon thereafter she began to receive sexually explicit messages and demands from McMahon.
The suit further claims the then-WWE executive involved other men in sexual encounters with Grant, even within an office at WWE, and on one occasion he was said to have “defecated on her head…”
Fmr. WWE employee’s shocking lawsuit says ‘abusive’ Vince McMahon defecated on her head during a threesome https://t.co/dbYVBZLu8H via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) January 26, 2024
According to the suit, when McMahon’s wife Linda McMahon learned of the alleged relationship with the employee, Grant was promised $3 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement, of which she claimed to only receive $1 million, thus prompting the lawsuit.
Named alongside McMahon and former WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis, who left in 2022, was WWE, Inc., prompting TKO CEO Ari Emanuel to state, “Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-t0-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,” he added.
McMahon’s resignation came the same week that WWE signed a 10-year streaming deal with Netflix to broadcast “Raw” beginning Jan. 2025. Additionally, it was announced Tuesday that Dwayne Johnson joined the board of TKO and received the trademark for his famed moniker, “The Rock,” previously owned by WWE.
TKO appoints Dwayne Johnson to Board of Directors@TheRock @WWE @ufc pic.twitter.com/bhTgADAEb7
— TKO (@TKOGrp) January 23, 2024
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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