Former World Wrestling Leisure (WWE) worker Janel Grant right this moment filed a grievance in U.S. District Courtroom in opposition to WWE founder Vince McMahon, in addition to former head of WWE expertise relations John Laurinaitis and the group itself. Grant is claiming violations of Trafficking Victims Prevention Act, Negligence, and Civil Battery, amongst different allegations, in relation to alleged sexual and emotional abuse suffered throughout her make use of.
“Right this moment’s grievance seeks to carry accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janel Grant, in addition to the group that facilitated or turned a blind eye to the abuse after which swept it beneath the rug,” Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, mentioned in right this moment’s assertion. “She is an extremely personal and brave one that has suffered deeply by the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis. Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will forestall different ladies from being victimized. The group is properly conscious of Mr. McMahon’s historical past of wicked conduct, and it’s time that they take duty for the misconduct of its management.”
McMahon, 78, allegedly threatened to destroy Grant’s livelihood if she failed to satisfy his sexual calls for, together with the dissemination of pornographic supplies to “1000’s” of staff. As well as, McMahon and Laurinaitis are alleged to have raped Grant in a WWE convention room, ignoring her protests and saying, “No means sure” and “take it, b*tch.”
A follow-up report by Wall Avenue Journal alleges former WWE champion Brock Lesnar, who additionally competed for UFC (capturing the heavyweight title in 2008), is the unnamed wrestler recognized within the lawsuit from Grant. McMahon allegedly shared express photographs of the plaintiff whereas attempting to re-sign Lesnar to a WWE contract. Lesnar allegedly requested (and obtained) a video of Grant urinating earlier than making an attempt to rearrange a “play date” that was later canceled resulting from inclement climate.
The lawsuit additionally claims McMahon’s spouse, Linda McMahon, later found the continuing abuse. Grant was allegedly “pressured” to resign from WWE and “pressured” to signal a non-disclosure settlement (NDA) in return for a $3 million payout. McMahon subsequently refused to make the required funds, suggesting Grant voided their association by leaking data to the media.
WWE not too long ago merged with Final Combating Championship (UFC) beneath TKO Group Holdings, Inc., earlier than hanging a landmark broadcasting cope with Netflix. The favored streaming service is anticipated to start airing the weekly professional wrestling product in early 2025. McMahon, who beforehand offered 25 % of his TKO inventory for about $670 million, briefly retired from WWE after allegations of sexual misconduct — and subsequent payoffs — surfaced again in early 2022.
McMahon returned to the corporate the next 12 months.