Vince McMahon Resigns From WWE Following Sex Trafficking Allegations From Ex-Staff

Vince McMahon, Executive Chairman of TKO, resigned amid sex trafficking allegations from ex-WWE employee Janel Grant. McMahon has vehemently denied the claims, stating that they are lies.

Grant previously settled for $3 million with a non-disclosure agreement. Now she's suing the former WWE boss for causing harm with sex toys and sexual assault and is seeking unspecified damages.

McMahon, the Executive Chairman of TKO, a company formed by Endeavor after the $21 billion WWE and UFC merger, has stepped down following explicit sex trafficking allegations from former WWE employee Grant.

According to a report, McMahon vehemently denied the allegations in a statement that read: "I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant's lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth."

"I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and look forward to clearing my name," the statement continued, per Daily Mail.

However, despite intending to defend himself, the statement added that "out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately."

Before her recent filing against McMahon and a former WWE executive this week, Grant had previously agreed to a $3 million settlement with a non-disclosure agreement in 2022.

According to a court filing, Grant alleged that the 78-year-old billionaire ceased payments after the initial $1 million installment, prompting her to seek the annulment of the agreement.

In the lawsuit, she claims McMahon subjected her to physical harm by forcefully using sex toys named after WWE wrestlers, causing bruising and bleeding.

Grant also accused McMahon and another executive of locking her in a room and sexually assaulting her during a workday at WWE headquarters. She is seeking unspecified damages and wants the court to void her NDA.

Grant joined WWE in 2019 during a challenging period in her life and entered into a relationship with McMahon that allegedly took advantage of her vulnerabilities.

According to the lawsuit, "The two met in March 2019, when Ms. Grant was dealing with profound grief and struggling financially – after devoting years to around-the-clock caregiving, her parents passed away. On top of that, she was unemployed, and her family home was lost in her parents' bankruptcy."

Initially, Grant perceived McMahon as a supportive figure, but the 43-year-old soon began feeling otherwise. The filing accused McMahon of exploiting her sexually and trafficking her to other executives within the company.

Text messages presented in the filing claim that McMahon shared explicit photos of Grant, making inappropriate comments. In one of the alleged messages, McMahon wrote, "She may scream and try to say NO!! although it would Be difficult to say anything with a c--- down her throat."

Another message allegedly sent from McMahon to Grant read: "I'm the only one who owns U and controls who I want to f--- U."

John Laurinaitis, a former WWE executive and wrestler, is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, although he was terminated from WWE in 2022.

According to the filing, McMahon reportedly distanced himself from Grant in January 2022 after his wife, Linda McMahon, learned of their affair.

The lawsuit alleged that McMahon pressured Grant to keep silent about the relationship, warning her that Linda might file for divorce, leading to reputational damage.

McMahon then directed Grant to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and promised assistance from "WWE Corporate Officer No. 1" in finding alternative employment. Grant, who left WWE in early 2022, received the initial $1 million of her $3 million NDA in February.

However, she claims that McMahon forced her into a final sexual act before their separation. "As Ms. Grant knelt on the hard floor, barely a few feet away from the front door, McMahon opened his robe and ordered her to 'Eat him!'" the filing accused.

It states that McMahon proceeded to assault Grant sexually "until she gagged and pushed him away, telling him to stop and that she couldn't breathe."

The former WWE staffer alleged that she never saw McMahon again after the violent encounter.