A former WWE staffer has accused the company’s founder, Vince McMahon, of sexual assault, trafficking and physical abuse in a lawsuit filed Thursday.
The new, disturbing allegations from Janel Grant, who worked at WWE’s headquarters, come more than a year after the conclusion of a WWE-appointed special committee investigation into McMahon’s alleged misconduct while serving as chairman and CEO of the company. McMahon retired from his role amid the investigation in July 2022 but has since returned as chair of WWE’s parent company.
In the lawsuit filed in Connecticut district court, Grant alleged that McMahon promised a job – and later promotions – at WWE in exchange for sex. Grant’s lawsuit also includes allegations that McMahon trafficked her to other men inside and outside of the company, including John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler who worked in the company’s talent relations department who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the lawsuit.
At the end of her employment and their sexual relationship, McMahon allegedly pressured Grant into signing a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for payments over several years totaling $3 million, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement, WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, said McMahon does not control TKO or oversee day-to-day operations at WWE. Led by McMahon, WWE and UFC, a mixed-martial arts entertainment competitor, announced in April 2023 that they would combine to form TKO.
“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,” a TKO spokesperson said.
In a statement to Deadline, a spokesperson for McMahon said the lawsuit was “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.”
“He will vigorously defend himself,” the spokesperson said.
Attempts by CNN to reach John Laurinaitis did not yield a response.
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In a statement to CNN, Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, said Thursday’s lawsuit sought 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.”
“Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership,” Callis added.
Grant initially believed she was building a professional relationship with McMahon, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon eventually pressured Grant into a physical relationship as he dangled “career-making and life-changing” promises in front of her. After receiving a job at WWE, McMahon allegedly subjected Grant to acts of “extreme cruelty and degradation” that caused Grant to “disassociate and/or become numb to reality in order to survive,” according to the lawsuit.
One disturbing incident described in the lawsuit details an alleged sexual encounter between Grant, McMahon and a “friend” of McMahon’s in May 2020. During the encounter, McMahon allegedly defecated on Grant, commanding “her to continue pleasuring his ‘friend’ with feces in her hair,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also detailed an alleged sexual assault among Grant, McMahon and Laurinaitis that occurred at WWE’s headquarters in 2021. The two men allegedly pulled Grant behind a locked door, forcibly restraining her. As she begged them to stop, one of the men allegedly said to her, “No means yes.”
“Ms. Grant was exploited during her time of employment with WWE and was subjected to countless depraved and humiliating acts, which has led to severe and permanent trauma,” the lawsuit alleges.
The new, disturbing allegations from Janel Grant, who worked at WWE’s headquarters, come more than a year after the conclusion of a WWE-appointed special committee investigation into McMahon’s alleged misconduct while serving as chairman and CEO of the company. McMahon retired from his role amid the investigation in July 2022 but has since returned as chair of WWE’s parent company.
In the lawsuit filed in Connecticut district court, Grant alleged that McMahon promised a job – and later promotions – at WWE in exchange for sex. Grant’s lawsuit also includes allegations that McMahon trafficked her to other men inside and outside of the company, including John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler who worked in the company’s talent relations department who is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The Wall Street Journal was first to report the lawsuit.
At the end of her employment and their sexual relationship, McMahon allegedly pressured Grant into signing a non-disclosure agreement in exchange for payments over several years totaling $3 million, according to the lawsuit.
In a statement, WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, said McMahon does not control TKO or oversee day-to-day operations at WWE. Led by McMahon, WWE and UFC, a mixed-martial arts entertainment competitor, announced in April 2023 that they would combine to form TKO.
“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,” a TKO spokesperson said.
In a statement to Deadline, a spokesperson for McMahon said the lawsuit was “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.”
“He will vigorously defend himself,” the spokesperson said.
Attempts by CNN to reach John Laurinaitis did not yield a response.
Enter your email to subscribe to the CNN Five Things Newsletter.
close dialog
You give us five minutes, we’ll give you five things you must know for the day.
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By subscribing you agree to our
privacy policy.
In a statement to CNN, Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, said Thursday’s lawsuit sought 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.”
“Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership,” Callis added.
Lawsuit details disturbing allegations
According to the lawsuit, Grant was introduced to McMahon in 2019 when she was looking for work.Grant initially believed she was building a professional relationship with McMahon, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon eventually pressured Grant into a physical relationship as he dangled “career-making and life-changing” promises in front of her. After receiving a job at WWE, McMahon allegedly subjected Grant to acts of “extreme cruelty and degradation” that caused Grant to “disassociate and/or become numb to reality in order to survive,” according to the lawsuit.
One disturbing incident described in the lawsuit details an alleged sexual encounter between Grant, McMahon and a “friend” of McMahon’s in May 2020. During the encounter, McMahon allegedly defecated on Grant, commanding “her to continue pleasuring his ‘friend’ with feces in her hair,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also detailed an alleged sexual assault among Grant, McMahon and Laurinaitis that occurred at WWE’s headquarters in 2021. The two men allegedly pulled Grant behind a locked door, forcibly restraining her. As she begged them to stop, one of the men allegedly said to her, “No means yes.”
“Ms. Grant was exploited during her time of employment with WWE and was subjected to countless depraved and humiliating acts, which has led to severe and permanent trauma,” the lawsuit alleges.
