TRIGGER WARNING
On January 25, a lawsuit was filed by Janel Grant against Vince McMahon, WWE and former executive John Laurinaitis. The lawsuit accuses McMahon of sex trafficking, emotional abuse, and sexual assault. The lawsuit includes disturbing details of how Janel was treated sexually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Edward Brennan, the lawyer for Mr. Laurinaitis, gave the following statement to VICE:
“Mr. Laurinaitis denies the allegations in the misguided complaint and will be vigorously defending these charges in Court, not the media. Like the Plaintiff, Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case, not a predator. The truth will come out.”
In response to a followup question seeking to clarify that he was indeed saying that McMahon was the predator and that Laurinaitis, like Grant, was a victim, Brennan wrote, “Read the allegations. Read the Federal Statute. Power, control, employment supervisory capacity, dictatorial sexual demands with repercussions if not met. Count how many times in the complaint Vince exerts control over both of them.”
The lawsuit says, “In June 2021, McMahon and Defendant Laurinaitis sexually assaulted Ms. Grant inside Laurinaitis’ office in WWE headquarters while colleagues were busy at their desks. Behind a locked door, the two men cornered her and pulled her in between them, forcibly touched her, before ultimately putting her on top of a table in between them. She begged them to stop, but they forced themselves on her, each taking turns restraining her for the other, while saying ‘No means yes’ and ‘Take it, bitch.’”
The lawsuit alleges that McMahon instructed Grant to create “explicit content” for Laurinaitis and arranged a threesome between them. Later, the suit claims, she was transferred to the talent relations department, which Laurinaitis was the head of. The lawsuit claims that the transfer came “with the expectation, from both McMahon and Laurinaitis, that she engage with Laurinaitis sexually, both physically and with explicit content.”
Laurinaitis was terminated by WWE in the summer of 2022 and was investigated by the WWE Board in relation to sexual misconduct and hush money allegations brought against McMahon in June 2022.
The lawsuit describes, in graphic detail, Grant's account of her interactions with McMahon. Readers can view the lawsuit, which comes with a trigger warning, by clicking here.
McMahon has denied the allegations and said, through a spokesman, that he will vigorously defend himself.
Victim Resources:
National Sexual Assault Hotline
Hours: Available 24 hours
1-800-656-4673
