On Thursday, former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against WWE founder and CEO Vince McMahon, former head of WWE Talent Relations John Laurinaitis, and the WWE, accusing McMahon and Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting and trafficking her and the WWE of turning a blind eye to the abuse.
The charges include Violation of the Trafficking Victims Prevention Act (TVPA) against both Vince McMahon and John Laurianitis, Participating in Venture in Violation of the TVPA against the WWE, Negligence against the WWE, as well as Civil Battery against and Intentional or Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress against all defendants.
“Today’s complaint seeks to hold accountable two WWE executives who sexually assaulted and trafficked Plaintiff Janel Grant, as well as the organization that facilitated or turned a blind eye to the abuse and then swept it under the rug,” Ann Callis, attorney for the plaintiff, said in a statement. “She is an incredibly private and courageous person who has suffered deeply at the hands of Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis. Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized. The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s history of depraved behavior, and it’s time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership.”
According to the complaint, McMahon and Laurinaitis, on WWE property and using WWE funding, “both engaged in sexual assault and trafficking of Ms. Grant both for their own pleasure and as a pawn to secure talent deals with prospective wrestlers they were recruiting. Mr. McMahon repeatedly used sex toys named after other WWE employees, wrestlers, and performers to sexually groom Ms. Grant for trafficking to those same people.”
The complaint also alleges that both McMahon and Laurinaitis raped Ms. Grant in a WWE conference room.
If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual assault, help is always available, 24 hours a day.
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
