A bombshell story from Khadeeja Safdar, Joe Palazzolo, and Ted Mann at The Wall Street Journal is out from a woman who received a payout from Vince McMahon. In a new lawsuit, the woman, Janel Grant, accuses McMahon and a former executive of sex trafficking. The lawsuit claims that McMahon lured her in with “promises of career advancement” and then she was allegedly exploited and trafficked to other men in the company.
Grant signed an NDA in 2022 and McMahon agreed to pay her $3 million to not discuss their relationship. The NDA also stated that she could not disparage him. The WSJ added that they have yet to hear from McMahon or his attorney Jerry McDevitt when they were reached for comment on this story. In 2023, McMahon denied an “intentional wrongdoing.”
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon and another WWE executive locked her in an office at the company headquarters on June 15, 2021. Per the WSJ story, “In the middle of another workday, on June 23, 2021, McMahon locked Grant inside his private locker room at WWE’s offices and forced himself on her over a massage table, the suit said. Later that day, McMahon’s personal assistant delivered $15,000 in Bloomingdale’s gift cards to Grant in her office.”
The WSJ story also notes that Grant has screenshots and explicit text messages from McMahon with one from May 2020 that says, “i’m the only one who owns U and controls who I want to f— U.” Grant also alleges that nude photos and explicit videos of her where shared by McMahon to other employees without her consent. The videos and photos were also allegedly shown to unnamed executives and stars and then he directed her to have sex with them.
Allegedly, McMahon’s demands of Grant increased and he forced sex toys on her including toys he named after WWE wrestlers. Grant says this caused her bruising and bleeding. In March 2020, McMahon allegedly shared sexually explicit photos and videos of Grant with other other men. The suit claims that this included executives and a former WWE Heavyweight Champion with “whom WWE was actively trying to sign to a new contract.” McMahon allegedly defecated on her head during a threesome, according to the lawsuit.
McMahon also allegedly paid for Grant to see a celebrity doctor because of her deteriorating physical and mental health. He also allegedly paid $20,000 to a surgeon on her behalf. Grant said in the suit that she “felt bad” about herself when she left the hotel after being sent there to have sex with John Laurinaitis.
The suit also alleges that Grant started at a lower level with the company but was promised that she would be promoted to vice president and that McMahon controlled her professional and personal life and was subjected to degradation. Furthermore, in June 2021, McMahon and Laurintis allegedly took terms restraining her while saying, “No means yes” and “Take it, b—.”
From the WSJ:
“In July 2021, the suit said, McMahon instructed Grant to create personalized sexual content for a WWE superstar that he was trying to re-sign. The suit didn’t name the professional wrestler, but described him as both a UFC fighter and WWE talent. People familiar with the matter identified the wrestler as Brock Lesnar, one of WWE’s biggest names.”
McMahon also allegedly gave Grant’s personal phone number to a WWE star and the wrestler asked for her to send a video of her urinating and then called her a “b–” afterward. The star then later that month asked about setting “a play date.”
In January 2022, McMahon allegedly claimed to grant Linda McMahon found out about the relationship and he pressured her to sign an NDA in exchange for compensation. McMahon also allegedly made threats that he had pornographic content of her that could lead to reputational ruin.
Grant signed the NDA and then allegedly McMahon continued with the abuse, including McMahon forcing her to perform oral sex on him. Per the WSJ: “The lawsuit seeks a judgment that the NDA is invalid under state and federal law and compensatory and punitive damages under other laws, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.”
Ann Callis of the Holland Law Firm, who is representing Grant, issued the following statement to the media about the lawsuit:
“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.
“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.”
Brandon Thurston posted the link to the lawsuit below:
The complaint from Janel Grant against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis, filed in federal court in Connecticut today is here.https://t.co/eP9t8aXFiC
— Brandon Thurston (@BrandonThurston) January 25, 2024
