(Stamford) Professional wrestling titan Vince McMahon resigned from WWE’s parent company late Friday.
This comes a day after a former employee filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct, including offering her to a wrestler for sex.
McMahon has resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of WWE parent company TKO Group Holdings, according to a statement released Friday evening.
He denied any wrongdoing following the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, who worked in the company’s legal and talent management (wrestlers or other on-screen people) departments.
The suit includes allegations that McMahon, now 78, forced Grant to have a sexual relationship so she could get and keep a job.
The suit also claims he passed pornographic photos and videos of her to other men, including other WWE employees.
The AP generally does not name people bringing charges in sexual assault cases, but Grant’s representatives said she wanted it made public.
His lawyer declined to comment Friday.
McMahon’s statement said he was leaving the board “out of respect” for WWE and the TKO Group.
“I stand by my statement that the prosecution of Mr.me Grant is full of lies and made-up lewd instances that never happened, and constitutes a vindictive distortion of the truth, he said, in a statement. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations. »
McMahon resigned as WWE CEO in 2022 amid an investigation into allegations that match those in the lawsuit. This was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut, where WWE is based.
McMahon has been the leader and one of the main faces of WWE for decades. When he bought what was then the WWF from his father in 1982, the fights took place in small venues and were broadcast on local cable channels.
Several WWE galas now take place in baseball or football stadiums, and the organization is widely followed abroad.
WWE merged last April with the company that runs the UFC to create the $21.4 billion sports entertainment company TKO Group Holdings.
McMahon served as executive chairman of the group’s board of directors until Friday.
Regarding McMahon’s resignation, TKO referred the media to the latter’s statement.
“Mr. McMahon does not control TKO or oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” TKO Group said earlier this week. Although this matter predates our TKO management team’s tenure at the company, we take Ms.’s horrific allegations very seriously.me Grant and let’s handle this matter internally. »
Grant also names as defendants in the suit WWE and John Laurinaitis, a former professional wrestler who also served as head of talent relations at WWE.
WWE and Laurinaitis did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and in 2019 offered to hire him for WWE after the death of his parents.
She alleges he eventually made it clear to her that one of the job requirements was to have physical relationships with him, and then with Laurinaitis and others.
Over the next few years, McMahon gave her gifts, including a luxury car, the suit says.
It is also alleged that McMahon offered a star wrestler, who is not named in the suit, sex with Grant as a benefit, in 2021.
Grant is seeking unspecified damages and is asking the court to overturn a three million non-disclosure agreement, of which she claims she only received one million.
“Mme Grant hopes her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victims, her attorney, Ann Callis, said in a statement Thursday.
“The organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon’s depraved behavior. It is time for it to take responsibility for the misbehavior of its leaders. »