Confidential Agreement in Case of Sexual Abuse in WWE
In an unexpected turn, a former WWE executive has reached a confidential agreement regarding the sexual abuse allegations presented in a lawsuit by a former employee. This agreement contemplates the cooperation of the former executive with the plaintiff in her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon, according to representatives and lawyers who reported on Wednesday. John Laurinaitis, who was WWE’s head of talent relations and known in the ring as Johnny Ace, will provide support to Janel Grant in her lawsuit against McMahon and the wrestling entertainment company. Representatives of 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 details that Grant and Laurinaitis agreed to the dismissal of the charges against Laurinaitis, but the charges against WWE and McMahon remain in effect. Jessica Rosenberg, a lawyer for McMahon, issued a statement in response. 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 added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis had previously called the allegations in the lawsuit unfounded. Grant sued WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis last year in a federal court in Connecticut, where the company is headquartered in Stamford. In graphic detail, she alleges that McMahon forced her to perform sexual acts with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and claims that both men sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit also includes photos of text messages of a sexual nature that McMahon allegedly sent to Grant. McMahon, former WWE CEO and chairman, has denied Grant’s accusations. He previously stated that the lawsuit is “rife with lies, fabricated obscene instances that never occurred, and is a vengeful distortion of the truth. My intention is to vigorously defend myself against these unfounded accusations and I 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 managed by McMahon, and was then transferred to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. She has stated that she was eventually 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, McMahon, WWE, and Laurinaitis’ motions to move all claims to arbitration are pending in the lawsuit. They argued 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 stepped down 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. McMahon bought what was then the World Wrestling Federation in 1982 and transformed it from a regional wrestling company into a global phenomenon. In addition to running the company with his wife, Linda, who is now the U.S. Secretary of Education, he also performed at WWE events as himself.Their agreement for a confidential settlement is a crucial step in holding McMahon and WWE accountable and bringing justice to Ms. Grant after years of sexual abuse and trafficking.
Representatives for Grant and Laurinaitis
