In a federal lawsuit filed on Thursday, former WWE employee Janel Grant has accused executive Vince McMahon and another former executive of grave sexual misconduct, including disturbing allegations of offering her to a star wrestler for sexual favors.
The detailed 67-page lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is headquartered, sheds light on troubling incidents during Grant’s tenure in the company’s legal and talent departments. Among the accusations are claims that McMahon, now 78, coerced her into a sexual relationship, leveraging it as a condition for obtaining and retaining her job. The lawsuit also alleges that McMahon circulated explicit pictures and videos of Grant to other men, including fellow WWE employees.
Vince McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amidst an investigation into allegations mirroring those outlined in the lawsuit. Apart from McMahon, the lawsuit also names the WWE itself and John Laurinaitis, the company’s former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants.
The lawsuit brings to light serious concerns regarding workplace culture and the alleged exploitation of power dynamics within the wrestling organization.
