Confidential Agreement in Case of Sexual Abuse in WWE
A former WWE executive, involved in a lawsuit over allegations of sexual abuse by a former employee, has reached a confidential settlement. This agreement includes the executive’s cooperation with the plaintiff in her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon, representatives and lawyers confirmed on Wednesday. John Laurinaitis, the former WWE head of talent relations, known in the ring as Johnny Ace, will assist Janel Grant in her lawsuit against McMahon and the wrestling entertainment company. Representatives for Grant and Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, confirmed the settlement and cooperation agreement, indicating 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 persist. Jessica Rosenberg, an attorney for McMahon, issued a statement in response.“Their agreement for a confidential settlement is a fundamental step in holding McMahon and WWE accountable and bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and human trafficking,” Grant and Laurinaitis’ representatives stated in a joint statement. “Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide additional details at this time.”
Grant and Laurinaitis Representatives
Rosenberg added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis previously stated that the lawsuit’s allegations were unfounded. The lawsuit, filed last year in a federal court in Connecticut, alleges that McMahon forced Grant to have sexual relations with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and that both men sexually assaulted her. Grant claims she was forced to perform humiliating acts during the encounters. The lawsuit also includes photographs of sexual text messages that McMahon allegedly sent to Grant. McMahon, who has denied Grant’s accusations, resigned from his position at WWE’s parent company in January 2024, after Grant filed the lawsuit. Previously, in 2022, he stepped down as WWE’s CEO amid an internal investigation into allegations similar to those in Grant’s lawsuit. Grant began working for WWE in 2019 in the legal department, a position managed by McMahon, and was then transferred to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate a $3 million non-disclosure agreement that Grant signed, alleging that McMahon breached the agreement by giving her $1 million and not paying the rest.“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,” Rosenberg said. “No matter how many press releases his team issues, the truth remains the same.”
Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s lawyer
