In a significant development within the professional wrestling world, former WWE employee Janel Grant has filed a lawsuit against the company, its ex-leader Vince McMahon, and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses them of serious charges, including sexual battery, harassment, and human trafficking, raising concerns about workplace culture in one of the industry’s most prominent organizations.
Background of the Allegations againt Vince McMahon
5 Most Disturbing Details from WWE’s Vince McMahon’s Sex Assault Lawsuit
Janel Grant, who worked in WWE’s legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022, has made several graphic allegations in her lawsuit, filed in January.She claims that McMahon coerced her into a sexual relationship under the guise of job security and subsequently directed her to engage in sexual acts with others, including Laurinaitis. Grant’s lawsuit details experiences of sexual assault, harassment, and emotional abuse, further alleging that McMahon and Laurinaitis assaulted her at WWE’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.
Grant’s lawyer, Ann Callis, highlighted the need for accountability, stating, “If WWE and its parent company Endeavor are serious about parting ways with Vince McMahon and the toxic workplace culture he created, their executives should have no problem with releasing former WWE employees from their NDAs.” This statement, issued to The Associate Press, underscores a broader demand for transparency and justice within the industry, suggesting that the enforcement of nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) hinders victims from coming forward with their own experiences.
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The Attorney’s Request to Waive NDAs
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In light of the ongoing legal battle, Callis sent a letter requesting that WWE, McMahon, and their parent companies refrain from enforcing NDAs with other former and current employees. By doing so, the hope is that others who may have faced similar situations will feel empowered to speak out. This request is reminiscent of other high-profile cases in recent years, including those involving the Weinstein Company and NBC Universal, where victims were released from NDAs to come forward with their stories of sexual misconduct.
The issue of NDAs has been increasingly scrutinized, with many lawyers and advocacy groups asserting that they serve as tools to silence victims while allowing alleged abusers to evade accountability. Recent federal laws and similar legislation in several states have begun to limit the use of NDAs in cases of sexual harassment, further highlighting the need for change in how such agreements are handled.
The letter sent by the attorney reads:
“Call for WWE to Release Former and Current Employees and Contractors from Non-Disclosure Agreements
Dear Mr. Toal, Ms. Rosenberg, and Mr. Brennan:
World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (“WWE”) has said that it “takes Ms. Grant’s allegations very seriously and has no tolerance for any physical abuse or unwanted physical contact.” In other words, WWE would like the world to believe that it has reformed its workplace culture. But if WWE is truly committed to change, it must allow survivors to speak their truth without fear of reprisal. We call upon WWE to publicly waive enforcement of its non-disclosure agreements (“NDAs”) to allow its former and current employees and contractors (including wrestlers contracted to perform under the WWE brand) to speak out about sexual misconduct, sexual assault, harassment, and workplace aggression or disputes concerning the toxic culture at WWE.
This includes releasing women who signed NDAs related to sexual misconduct by former CEO Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and other WWE leadership and employees as conditions of settlement. The toxic and sexualized culture at WWE during Mr. McMahon’s tenure as CEO and Chairman was open and notorious. Yet what has been publicly reported is only part of the picture. We have had witnesses come to us confidentially and describe a sexualized culture at WWE that victimizes women and men.
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We have received reports that many victims are currently afraid to come forward because of punitive non-disclosure and non- disparagement agreements. For example, as The Wall Street Journal reported on July 8, 2022, Mr. McMahon paid over $12 million to at least four women to secure their silence about his sexual misconduct. Our client is just one of an untold many. We therefore also ask Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis to affirm that survivors and WWE employees who witnessed abuse may speak about their experiences without fear of retribution and retaliation.
WWE cannot move on from its sordid past while its victims remain silenced. Survivors deserve an opportunity to share their experiences on their terms. Forced silence only deepens the wounds of sexual abuse. Survivors are revictimized every time they are muzzled and forced to live in fear of attack from a multi-billion-dollar business that can hire an army of lawyers to bury them in legal fees if they speak the truth.
Even unenforceable NDAs, like the one our client was coerced to sign, have a chilling effect because individuals do not have the will or resources to fight them. WWE must clarify that any NDAs that it has entered are not intended to prevent disclosure of sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault, and disclaim and waive any claims it may have under those NDAs if current or former employees and contractors choose to speak out.
We urge WWE to quickly and proactively release its current and former employees and contractors from any obligations under any WWE-executed NDA that would prevent them from discussing sexual misconduct, abuse, or assault during their time at WWE without delay. WWE wants people to believe the company has changed—this is its chance to prove it.
Regards,
Ann E. Callis”
Vince McMahon’s Response to the allegations
What The WWE Is Hiding About Vince McMahon’s Lawsuit
Vince McMahon, who has been a dominant figure in professional wrestling since he purchased what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1982, has publicly denied Grant’s allegations. He described her claims as “replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth.” McMahon has expressed his intention to vigorously defend himself against what he labels as baseless accusations. His legal team has argued that he maintained a consensual relationship with Grant and never mistreated her.
The fallout from Grant’s allegations has been profound. McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid an investigation that mirrored the claims in Grant’s lawsuit, and he also resigned from his role as executive chairman of TKO Group Holdings in January 2024, just a day after Grant filed her lawsuit.
Broader Implications and Industry Culture
Grant’s case is not an isolated incident. It reflects a troubling trend of alleged misconduct within the wrestling industry, with several other women coming forward with claims against McMahon. The Wall Street Journal reported that four other women, all previously affiliated with WWE, signed NDAs with McMahon that bar them from discussing their relationships with him. Grant was not among those women, which has led her to challenge the legality and enforcement of such agreements.
Moreover, the lawsuit draws attention to the culture of silence that often pervades industries like professional wrestling, where power dynamics can leave individuals feeling vulnerable and powerless. The accusations against McMahon are part of a broader conversation about workplace culture, particularly in industries where fame and power often come into play.
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