Vince McMahon, the CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has resigned after a former employee accused him of sex trafficking.
Janel Grant claims that Mr. McMahon and another former executive, John Laurinaitis, sexually raped and trafficked her in order to recruit wrestling talent.
Mr. McMahon, 78, announced in a statement that he had decided to leave as executive chairman of TKO, WWE’s parent company.
However, he denied the allegations.
“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,” Mr. McMahon said in a statement on Friday.
He added: “Out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately.”
In a memo obtained by ESPN, WWE president Nick Khan shared that “since McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors,”.
“He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
Ms. Grant, a former WWE employee, claimed that Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis trafficked her to other men “as a sexual pawn to entice world-famous wrestling talent.” The BBC was unable to reach Mr. Laurinaitis for a comment.
Ms. Grant was unemployed when she met the WWE boss and was battling with her deceased parents’ bankruptcy.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. McMahon coerced her into a physical connection by promising her a job at WWE.
According to the legal action, Ms. Grant worked at WWE’s headquarters in Connecticut from 2019 to 2022.
She stated she felt trapped “in an impossible situation… submitting to Mr. McMahon’s sexual demands or facing ruin.”.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. McMahon “expected and directed Ms. Grant to engage in sexual activity at the WWE headquarters, even during working hours.”.
She also accuses the two defendants of sexually abusing her at WWE headquarters in Connecticut in June 2021.
In 2022, the WWE board announced a probe into an alleged $3 million (£2.5 million) settlement between Mr. McMahon and an ex-employee with whom he had a consensual relationship.
His daughter took over as acting CEO and chairperson, succeeding the 78-year-old. After the investigation was completed in January 2023, he returned to his position as WWE Chairman.
