A former WWE employee who received a hush money payout from former CEO Vince McMahon has filed a lawsuit accusing him and another former executive of sex trafficking.
The Wall Street Journal reported Janel Grant accused McMahon of physical and sexual abuse at the company’s Stamford office. She also accused McMahon exploiting and trafficking her to other men within the company while she was an employee. The lawsuit cited WWE’s former head of talent relations, John Laurinaitis, one the men she was forced to have sex with – Laurinaitis, who was a former WWE wrestler performing as Johnny Ace, is a defendant in the suit.
Grant signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2022 that would require McMahon to pay her $3 million, but her new lawsuit said she only received $1 million, with payments stopping after news of the deal became public in the summer of 2022. Her new lawsuit seeks to void the nondisclosure agreement and unspecified financial damages.
“Today’s complaint seeks to hold accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janel Grant, as well as the organization that facilitated or turned a blind eye to the abuse and then swept it under the rug,” said the Holland Law Firm’s Ann Callis, an attorney for Grant. “She is an incredibly private and courageous person who has suffered deeply at the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis. Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership.”
WWE has not publicly commented on the lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. A spokesperson for Vince McMahon issued a statement that said, “This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”
Photo courtesy of WWE
