A former employee of WWE has initiated a lawsuit against the organization and its ex-chairman, Vince McMahon, alleging serious offenses including sexual battery and trafficking. As part of this legal action, Janel Grant is requesting that WWE, along with McMahon and John Laurinaitis, a former executive and wrestler, refrain from imposing nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) on current and former employees. This request aims to facilitate the emergence of other individuals who may wish to reveal similar accusations.
On Monday, Grant’s attorney sent a communication to the legal representatives for WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis, highlighting this demand. A spokesperson for McMahon, Curtis Vogel, chose not to comment, and no immediate responses were provided by the lawyers for WWE and Laurinaitis. Similar lack of response came from WWE’s parent companies, Endeavor Group Holdings and TKO Group Holdings.
Vince McMahon, who previously held the positions of CEO and chairman of WWE, has publicly refuted Grant’s claims. Grant’s allegations, which were detailed in a lawsuit filed in January, encompass severe instances of sexual assault, harassment, and emotional abuse, detailing her experiences while working in WWE’s legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022.
Following numerous allegations, McMahon resigned as WWE CEO in 2022 and stepped down from his role as executive chairman with TKO Group Holdings just a day after Grant’s lawsuit was lodged. Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, expressed in a statement that if WWE and Endeavor truly aim to distance themselves from the troubling work culture fostered by McMahon, they should have no qualms about lifting the NDAs imposed on former employees, which she argues is a crucial step in restoring the company’s reputation after years of concealing sexual assault and trafficking incidents.
In response to the lawsuit, McMahon declared that it is filled with inaccuracies and fabrications, claiming a relationship with Grant was consensual. His legal team contends that he never engaged in any form of mistreatment towards her. Similarly, Laurinaitis’ legal counsel has dismissed the allegations against him, alleging that he has also been victimized in this situation.
Grant claims that she was coerced into resigning from her position at WWE and was required to sign an NDA worth $3 million. Furthermore, she seeks to have this NDA declared invalid, asserting that McMahon violated its terms by giving her $1 million and failing to fulfill the remainder of the agreement.
Reports have surfaced regarding four additional women who entered into NDAs with McMahon concerning their involvements with him, but Grant’s representatives clarify that she wasn’t part of this group. Moreover, in December 2022, McMahon reportedly settled with a former wrestling referee for a substantial sum over claims of rape dating back to 1986, although McMahon denies any wrongdoing and maintains that the settlement was to prevent lengthy and costly litigation.
Grant’s motion to have WWE waive enforcement of the NDAs aligns with similar requests made to other corporations in the wake of sexual misconduct allegations. Notably, both Weinstein Co. and NBC Universal in recent years have released employees from NDAs pertaining to claims against figures like Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer, respectively.
Attorneys representing victims contend that NDAs serve as tools for silencing accusers while allowing perpetrators to escape consequences. Legislation passed in 2022 at the federal level, along with similar laws in numerous states, limits the utilization of NDAs that prevent sexual harassment victims from publicizing their experiences.
While it is customary for certain news entities to withhold names of individuals who report sexual assault, Grant has chosen to come forward publicly. She alleges that McMahon coerced her into a sexual relationship as a condition for her employment and later directed her to engage in sexual relations with others, including Laurinaitis. Grant’s lawsuit further accuses both McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her at WWE’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. Additionally, the lawsuit claims McMahon facilitated entanglements with other individuals, shared explicit content of Grant with others despite promises to the contrary, and subjected her to degrading treatment.
Since acquiring what was then known as the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, McMahon has been instrumental in transforming it from a regional entity into a global powerhouse. In conjunction with his endeavors, he has also participated in WWE events as a performer.
