WWE Sexual Abuse Settlement: Laurinaitis to Cooperate with Accuser
A former WWE executive, involved in a lawsuit over allegations of sexual abuse by a former employee, has reached a confidential settlement. Now, he will collaborate with the plaintiff in her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon, representatives and lawyers reported on Wednesday. John Laurinaitis, former WWE head of talent relations and known as Johnny Ace in the ring, will assist Janel Grant in her lawsuit against McMahon and the wrestling entertainment company. Grant’s representatives and Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, confirmed the settlement and cooperation agreement. They mentioned that Laurinaitis possesses “evidence” against McMahon and the company, although they did not specify its nature.A court document filed on Wednesday indicates that Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to dismiss the allegations in the lawsuit against Laurinaitis, but the allegations against WWE and McMahon continue. McMahon’s lawyer, Jessica Rosenberg, issued a statement in response.Their confidential settlement agreement is a crucial step in holding McMahon and WWE accountable, and in bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Joint statement from Grant and Laurinaitis’ representatives
Rosenberg added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis had already stated that the lawsuit’s allegations were unfounded. Grant sued WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis last year in a federal court in Connecticut, where the company is headquartered in Stamford. In explicit detail, she alleges that McMahon forced her to have sexual relations with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and claims that both men sexually assaulted her. According to her, she was forced to perform humiliating acts during the encounters. The lawsuit also includes photos of text messages of a sexual nature that McMahon allegedly sent to Grant. McMahon, the former WWE CEO and chairman, has denied Grant’s accusations. Previously, he stated that the lawsuit is “rife with lies, fabricated obscene instances that never happened, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these unfounded accusations and look forward to clearing my name.” His lawyers stated in court documents that he had a consensual relationship with Grant and that he never mistreated her. Grant began working for WWE in 2019 as an entry-level employee in its legal department, a position arranged by McMahon, and then moved to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. She has claimed that she was finally pressured to leave her job at WWE and sign a $3 million non-disclosure agreement. The lawsuit seeks to have the agreement declared invalid, alleging that McMahon breached the agreement by giving her $1 million and not paying the rest. Currently, pending in the lawsuit are motions from McMahon, WWE, and Laurinaitis to move all claims to arbitration. They stated that the lawsuit should not be allowed because Grant agreed to resolve any disputes in arbitration as part of his confidentiality agreement. McMahon resigned from WWE’s parent company in January 2024 after Grant filed his lawsuit. At that time, McMahon resigned from his position as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. He also resigned as WWE CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations similar to those in Grant’s lawsuit.The dismissal of John Laurinaitis as a defendant does not alter the facts of this case in any way. Vince McMahon never mistreated Janel Grant.
Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s attorney
