According to the lawsuit filed in Connecticut on Thursday, former WWE employee Janel Grant, who previously worked at the company's headquarters, alleges emotional and physical abuse by McMahon. Grant claims McMahon subjected her to graphic abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking, including disturbing incidents such as defecation during a threesome and coercing her into sexual acts with him and others.
Grant expressed fear of losing her job at WWE if she did not comply with McMahon's alleged mistreatment. The lawsuit emphasizes that Grant is not only seeking justice for herself but also aiming to shed light on potential misconduct within McMahon's WWE operations.
The legal action also implicates WWE executive John Laurinaitis, accused of complicity in McMahon's abuses. Grant is suing WWE for alleged negligence, seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. Additionally, the lawsuit aims to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) signed by Grant in 2022 under pressure.
In response, McMahon, 78, has vehemently denied all allegations through a spokesperson, who characterized Grant's claims as "replete with lies" and a "vindictive distortion of the truth." McMahon is prepared to vigorously defend himself against the accusations.
Grant's Allegations Against McMahon
Grant claims to have met McMahon in 2019 when she was struggling financially after the death of her parents. McMahon allegedly offered her a job at WWE, which later turned into a nightmare as she experienced inappropriate behavior during job meetings.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon pressured Grant into a sexual relationship in exchange for her employment, and she was eventually hired as an administrator-coordinator. Grant alleges McMahon shared explicit content of her with others and engaged in aggressive and painful sexual activities.
The lawsuit details McMahon's alleged recruitment of other men, including Laurinaitis, for sexual encounters with Grant. Grant describes feeling exploited and coerced into acts she deemed degrading.
Voiding the NDA and McMahon's Denial
Grant contends that McMahon pressured her to sign an NDA in 2022, which she now seeks to invalidate under federal law, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. McMahon's spokesperson maintains that Grant willingly signed the NDA and now seeks to distort the truth.
Previous Misconduct Investigation and Company Changes
In 2022, McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of WWE during an investigation into alleged misconduct, where he reportedly paid hush money to four women over 16 years. Grant criticizes the internal investigation as a "sham" and claims she was never interviewed.
Despite stepping down, McMahon remains an executive chairman, and WWE is now part of TKO Group Holdings. A spokesperson for TKO Group Holdings stated that McMahon does not control the company or oversee WWE's day-to-day operations. The statement acknowledges the seriousness of Grant's allegations and states that the matter is being addressed internally.
Netflix Deal and McMahon's Current Status
This week, Netflix secured a US$5-billion rights deal with WWE, making it the exclusive home of Raw starting January 2025. While McMahon's alleged misconduct has not been publicly addressed by Netflix, the statement emphasizes the seriousness of the allegations made by Grant.
The situation continues to unfold, and McMahon, along with WWE, faces a challenging legal battle as they address the serious accusations brought forth by Janel Grant.
