Faced with a sexual abuse and trafficking lawsuit, Vince McMahon released a statement regarding his status with the wrestling industry “effective immediately.”
The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) universe and parent company TKO Group Holdings have been moving forward with announcements since the full merger with the UFC in September. However, while a Netflix deal and a new role for “The Rock” made headlines this week, those stories were easily overshadowed by McMahon's resignation Friday.
In a first statement reported on Deadline, more than four decades after he bought the then-World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, McMahon announced his separation from the company while defending himself against the recently filed allegations.
“I stand by my previous statement that Ms. Grant's lawsuit is full of lies, made up obscene cases that never happened and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and I hope I can clear my name,” he expressed.
“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary business of TKO and its board members and shareholders, partners and voters and all the employees and superstars who helped make WWE the world leader that it's today,” McMahon explained. I have decided to resign from my executive presidency and from the board of directors of TKO, effective immediately.”
The decision came quickly after former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that she “was a victim of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking at WWE.”
As previously covered, Grant began working as an “administrator-coordinator” at WWE in June 2019 needing paid work following the death of her parents, and alleged that shortly thereafter she began receiving sexually explicit messages and demands from McMahon.
The lawsuit further claims that the then-WWE executive engaged other men in sexual encounters with Grant, including inside a WWE office, and on one occasion allegedly “defecated on his head. ..”.
Fmr. WWE employee's shocking lawsuit says 'abusive' Vince McMahon defecated on head during threesome https://t.co/dbYVBZLu8H road @BIZPACRevision
— Based on BPR (@DumpstrFireNews) January 26, 2024
According to the suit, when McMahon's wife, Linda McMahon, learned of the alleged affair with the employee, Grant was promised $3 million to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which she claimed she only had received $1 million, prompting the lawsuit.
Named alongside McMahon and former WWE Head of Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, who is leaving in 2022, was WWE, Inc., prompting TKO CEO Ari Emanuel to say, “Mr. . McMahon does not control TKO or oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE.”
“While this matter predates our TKO executive team's tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant's horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally,” he added.
McMahon's resignation came the same week WWE signed a 10-year streaming deal with Netflix to air “Raw” starting in January 2025. It was also announced Tuesday that Dwayne Johnson has joined the TKO board and was trademarked for his famous nickname. “The Rock”, previously owned by WWE.
TKO Appoints Dwayne Johnson to Board of Directors@The stone @WWE @ufc pic.twitter.com/bhTgADAEb7
— TKO (@TKOGrp) January 23, 2024
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