WWE Founder Vince McMahon Resigns Amidst Explosive Sexual Misconduct Allegations
In a shocking development, Vince McMahon, the wrestling legend and founder of WWE, has stepped down from the board of directors at TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company, in the wake of serious sexual misconduct allegations. The resignation came the day after Janel Grant, a former employee, filed a federal lawsuit accusing McMahon and another former executive of engaging in severe misconduct, including coercing her into a sexual relationship.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, alleges that McMahon, now 78, used his influence to force Grant into a sexual relationship as a condition for employment and subsequently shared explicit images and videos of her with other men, including fellow WWE employees. McMahon, vehemently denying the accusations, issued a statement claiming the lawsuit is filled with lies and fabricated instances.
“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,” McMahon declared. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and look forward to clearing my name.”
Vince McMahon Resigns From TKO Group Board of Directors Following Sex Abuse, Trafficking Lawsuit https://t.co/E3YJPvTCGq
— Variety (@Variety) January 27, 2024
Notably, McMahon had previously stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amidst an investigation into similar allegations. The current lawsuit brings renewed scrutiny to these accusations and raises questions about the culture within the wrestling giant.
The Associated Press typically refrains from naming accusers in sexual assault cases, but Grant’s representatives have confirmed her decision to go public. As of now, her lawyer has not provided a comment on the matter.
McMahon’s resignation marks a significant turn of events for the influential figure who has been at the forefront of WWE for decades. Under McMahon’s leadership, WWE transformed from small venue wrestling matches on local cable channels to a global sports entertainment powerhouse with matches held in professional sports stadiums.
WWE merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship last April to create TKO Group Holdings, a $21.4 billion sports entertainment company. McMahon served as the executive chairman of the board until his resignation. TKO Group’s representative referred media inquiries to McMahon’s statement, leaving the future leadership of the company in question amidst the unfolding controversy.