WWE's Vince McMahon resigns after sexual assault lawsuit
WWEs Vince McMahon has resigned from TKO Group amid his sexual assault, human trafficking and abuse lawsuit.
The 78-year-old McMahon announced on Friday, January 26, that he will step down as executive chairman of the media conglomerate founded by Endeavor Group Holdings as part of a merger between World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. (UFC) last year. The news comes just one day after the former WWE staffer Janel Grant alleged that she was the victim of “physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking” during her employment under McMahon.
“Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO Company and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all the employees and Superstars who have helped make WWE the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign take from my position. executive chairmanship and the board of directors of TKO, effective immediately,” McMahon shared in a statement We weekly on Friday.
McMahon, who previously denied Grant's allegations, added: “I stand by my previous statement that Ms. Grant's lawsuit is full of lies, obscene fabrications that never happened, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless allegations and look forward to clearing my name.”
While Hollywood may seem all glitz and glamor at first glance, the industry has seen its fair share of scandals over the years. The New York Times and the New Yorker first published investigative pieces in 2017 accusing disgruntled film producer Harvey Weinstein of decades of sexual assault and harassment. Shortly afterwards, Weinstein stood trial and did so […]
Us obtained documents on Thursday, January 25, in which Grant alleged McMahon showed an “increasing lack of boundaries” after they met in 2019, claiming he would “greet her in his underwear, touch her, repeatedly ask for hugs and would spend hours sharing intimate details about his personal life.”
According to Grant, McMahon “pushed” her into a physical relationship in exchange for a job with WWE. Because she reportedly feared “negative consequences” if she rejected him, she claims that she ultimately “[succumbed] to the pressure.”
McMahon also allegedly shared sexually explicit photos of Grant with other men within the WWE, made “increasingly depraved sexual demands” and forced her to have sex with other staffers at the company's headquarters during work hours. This included WWE executive John Laurinaitis, who was also named in the lawsuit, along with the company as a whole.
Grant claimed that the WWE knew about the “misbehavior” and tried to cover it up, with McMahon attempting to silence her with an NDA. McMahon also allegedly “tried to steer her toward being a WWE star.”
After the news made headlines, TKO claimed they were addressing the situation “internally.” “Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” a TKO spokesperson said. Us in a statement Thursday. “While this matter predates our TKO management team's tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant's horrific allegations very seriously and are discussing this matter internally.”
Vince McMahon served as CEO and chairman of the board of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for decades before “voluntarily” resigning. McMahon, who was a former professional wrestler before taking over WWE operations, confirmed in June 2022 that he resigned while the company investigated misconduct claims against him. “I have […]
A spokesperson for McMahon called Grant's allegations “lies, obscene fabrications that never happened and a vindictive distortion of the truth,” adding that the professional wrestler will “vigorously defend himself.”
This isn't the first time McMahon has faced sexual assault charges. In June 2022, a former employee accused him of paying a $3 million settlement to cover up an alleged affair. Vince, who is married to a woman Linda McMahon at the time denied the claims since 1966 before voluntarily resigning as CEO of WWE during an internal investigation. Vince's daughter, Stephanie McMahon, was co-CEO and chairman of the board after her father's departure. She resigned from the company less than a week after his return in January 2023.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)