In a shocking turn of events, Vince McMahon, the executive chairman of WWE-parent TKO Group Holdings, announced his resignation amidst a sexual abuse scandal that has sent shockwaves through the wrestling world. McMahon, who vehemently denies the allegations made against him in a lawsuit filed by former employee Janel Grant, stated that he intends to vigorously defend himself against these baseless accusations.
The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, accuses McMahon of sexual assault, trafficking, and other disturbing acts. Grant alleges that McMahon defecated on her during a threesome, trafficked her to other WWE executives, and sexually abused her with toys named after wrestling stars. These allegations have sent shockwaves throughout the industry and have tarnished McMahon's reputation.
In response to the lawsuit, McMahon released a statement through Deadline, expressing his disbelief and calling the allegations a vindictive distortion of the truth. He stated, "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." Despite his denial, McMahon has made the difficult decision to step down from his executive chairmanship and resign from the TKO board of directors, effective immediately.
The news of McMahon's resignation was communicated to staff members through an email sent by WWE president and TKO board member, Nick Khan. In the email, Khan informed the employees that McMahon had tendered his resignation and would no longer have any role within TKO Group Holdings or WWE. This sudden departure has left the company and its employees in a state of shock and uncertainty.
This scandal comes on the heels of a previous controversy involving McMahon. In 2023, the Wall Street Journal reported that the WWE was investigating a $3 million payment made by McMahon to a departing female employee following a consensual affair. Grant's lawsuit alleges that she received $1 million after signing a non-disclosure agreement but did not receive any further payments.
The fallout from these allegations has yet to be fully realized, but it is clear that they have already had a significant impact on McMahon's career and the reputation of the WWE. The wrestling world will now have to grapple with the aftermath of this scandal and the implications it may have for the industry as a whole. As McMahon prepares to defend himself against these allegations, the future of the WWE remains uncertain.
