A former employee of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has filed a lawsuit accusing the company’s founder, Vince McMahon, and a former WWE executive, John Laurinaitis, of sex trafficking and abuse. Janel Grant, the plaintiff, alleges she was a victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking during her time at WWE. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, seeks accountability for the alleged misconduct.
Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, stated that the complaint aims to hold the accused executives responsible for sexual assault and trafficking, along with the organization’s complicity or willful ignorance of the abuse. Grant, described as a private and courageous individual, hopes the lawsuit will prevent similar victimization of women in the future.
In response, a spokesperson for Vince McMahon dismissed the lawsuit as containing “lies” and “obscene made-up instances.” McMahon is determined to vigorously defend himself against the allegations. WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, emphasized that McMahon does not control TKO or oversee day-to-day operations, yet they take the allegations seriously and are addressing the matter internally.
The lawsuit encompasses charges of sex trafficking, civil battery, intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligence. According to Grant, her interactions with McMahon began in March 2019, during his tenure as the company’s chief executive. The lawsuit claims McMahon made promises of career advancement while engaging in inappropriate behavior, eventually pressuring Grant into a physical relationship in exchange for employment opportunities at WWE.
Grant alleges that McMahon shared explicit content of her with unnamed individuals, creating a coercive environment due to his influential position. The lawsuit further contends that McMahon recruited others, including Laurinaitis, for sexual relations with Grant at WWE headquarters, sometimes during working hours.
Disturbingly, the lawsuit alleges sexual assault against Grant inside Laurinaitis’ office, with colleagues supposedly present at their desks. Grant contends that some within WWE were aware of the situation but actively concealed the wrongdoing. She claims to have lost her job after McMahon pressured her to sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) in January 2022, which she agreed to in exchange for payments. The lawsuit asserts that McMahon later ceased these payments.
Seeking to void the NDA, the lawsuit demands compensatory and punitive damages. Grant alleges that even after leaving WWE, McMahon attempted to traffic her to an unnamed WWE star in March 2022. The abuse described in the lawsuit has reportedly left Grant physically and mentally incapacitated, suffering from debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The lawsuit accuses WWE of attempting to cover up the matter following media reports of McMahon’s involvement in a hush money payment scandal. Despite WWE announcing a special committee to investigate the alleged misconduct, Grant claims she was never interviewed or asked for documents by the committee.
The lawsuit contends that McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE collectively groomed and coerced Grant, with the company facilitating efforts to keep her employed to ensure McMahon’s continued exploitation. McMahon, who initially stepped down as CEO in 2022 after a sexual misconduct investigation, maintained control over the company as a majority shareholder during his leave.
Last year, WWE announced McMahon’s reinstatement to the company’s board. This decision followed revelations that McMahon had paid nearly $15 million to four women over 16 years to settle claims of sexual misconduct. The November regulatory filing confirmed McMahon’s effective control over WWE affairs as a majority shareholder. The unfolding legal proceedings are expected to shed light on the veracity of the allegations against McMahon, Laurinaitis, and WWE.