Confidential Agreement in Case of Sexual Abuse in WWE
A former WWE executive, involved in allegations of sexual abuse by a former employee, has reached a confidential agreement. This agreement implies that the executive will collaborate with the plaintiff, Janel Grant, in her lawsuit against the company and Vince McMahon, former WWE leader, according to representatives and lawyers on Wednesday. John Laurinaitis, who was head of talent relations at WWE and known as Johnny Ace in the ring, will provide support to Janel Grant in her litigation against McMahon and the company. Grant’s representatives and Laurinaitis’ lawyer, Edward Brennan, confirmed the settlement and cooperation agreement. According to them, 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 claims in the lawsuit against Laurinaitis, but the allegations against WWE and McMahon remain in effect. Jessica Rosenberg, a lawyer for McMahon, issued a statement in response.This confidential 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,” stated Grant and Laurinaitis’ representatives in a joint statement. “Mr. Laurinaitis looks forward to moving on with his life. We cannot provide further details at this time.
Joint statement from Grant and Laurinaitis’ representatives
Rosenberg added that a lawyer for Laurinaitis had previously stated that the lawsuit’s allegations were unfounded. The lawsuit was filed by Grant last year in a federal court in Connecticut, where the company is headquartered. In it, Grant alleges that McMahon forced her to have sexual relations with him, Laurinaitis, and others, and claims to have been sexually assaulted by both men. She also denounces having been subjected to humiliating acts during these encounters. The lawsuit includes photos of text messages of a sexual nature that, it is claimed, McMahon sent to Grant. McMahon, former chairman and CEO of WWE, 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. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these unfounded accusations and hope to clear my name.” His lawyers stated in court documents that he maintained a consensual relationship with Grant and that he never mistreated her. Grant began working for WWE in 2019 as an entry-level employee in the legal department, a position managed by McMahon. Subsequently, she moved to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. Grant claims she was pressured to leave her job at WWE and sign a $3 million non-disclosure agreement. The lawsuit seeks to invalidate this agreement, 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 argue that the lawsuit should not be allowed, as Grant agreed to resolve any disputes in arbitration as part of his confidentiality agreement. McMahon resigned from WWE’s parent company in January 2024, following the filing of Grant’s 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 an internal investigation into allegations similar to those in Grant’s lawsuit. McMahon bought 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 participated in WWE events as himself.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 stated. “No matter how many press releases his team issues, the truth remains the same.
Jessica Rosenberg, McMahon’s lawyer
