January 26, 2024, 10:01 am ET
A former WWE employee has filed a federal lawsuit accusing general manager Vince McMahon and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct.
A A former WWE employee filed a federal lawsuit Thursday accusing general manager Vince McMahon and another former executive of serious sexual misconductincluding offering to offer her to a star wrestler for sex.
The 67-page lawsuit from Janel Grant, who worked in the company's legal and talent department, contains allegations about this McMahonThe now 78-year-old forced her into a sexual relationship to get and keep a job and passed pornographic photos and videos of her to other men, including other company employees. WWE.
McMahon resigned as CEO of WWE in 2022 as part of an investigation into allegations consistent with those in the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where the company is based. WWE.
WWE and John Laurinaitis are also named in the lawsuitthe company's former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants.
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The AP typically does not name accusers in sexual assault cases, but Grant's representatives said she wanted to go public.
“Ms. Grant hopes her lawsuit will prevent other women from becoming victims,” her attorney Ann Callis said in a statement. “The organization is aware of the fact that Mr. McMahonand it is time for them to take responsibility for the misconduct of their leadership.”
WWE's parent company, TKO Groupissued a statement saying it was taking the allegations seriously.
“The gentleman McMahon TKO does not control or monitor the day-to-day operations of WWE“TKO Group said: “Although this matter predates our TKO leadership team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant’s horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.”