Confidential Agreement in Case of Sexual Abuse in WWE
In an unexpected turn, a former WWE executive, involved in sexual abuse allegations filed by a former employee, has reached a confidential agreement. This agreement implies that the former executive will collaborate with the plaintiff, who continues her litigation against the company and former leader Vince McMahon. John Laurinaitis, known as Johnny Ace in the ring and former WWE head of talent relations, will provide support to Janel Grant in her lawsuit against McMahon and the wrestling entertainment company. Representatives for Grant and Laurinaitis’s lawyer confirmed the settlement and cooperation agreement, noting 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 charges against Laurinaitis, but the charges against WWE and McMahon persist. McMahon’s lawyer, Jessica Rosenberg, 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. No matter how many press releases his team issues, the truth remains the same. Grant sued WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis last year in a federal court in Connecticut, where the company is headquartered. In explicit detail, she alleges that McMahon coerced her into having sexual relations 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 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 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 never mistreated her. Grant began working for WWE in 2019 as an entry-level employee in its legal department, a job arranged by McMahon, and then moved to the talent relations department, where Laurinaitis was her boss. She has said 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, arguing that McMahon breached the agreement by giving her $1 million and not paying the rest. Currently, in the lawsuit, McMahon, WWE, and Laurinaitis’ motions to move all claims to arbitration are pending. They said 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’s chief executive officer in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations that match 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.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
