Grant details graphic abuse claims against McMahon in court filing
Janel Grant, a former WWE employee suing the company and its former CEO Vince McMahon, filed new graphic allegations this week in U.S. District Court in Connecticut. The filing expands on her claims of recruitment into WWE, repeated physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault and trafficking by McMahon, with senior officials aware and complicit. Grant alleges WWE and McMahon used coercive control to silence her.
Grant worked at WWE from June 2019 to 2022. Her initial lawsuit named McMahon and former executive John Laurinaitis, who has since been removed from the case. The new filing describes violent sexual encounters: "Throughout the three years, sex was violent, invasive, degrading, and produced injuries that could not heal because there would consistently be subsequent violent encounters, often involving other men or objects." It claims McMahon pressured her to sign a non-disclosure agreement and assaulted her afterward, leaving her under duress with no avenue for complaint.
McMahon, who founded and led WWE for decades as chairman and CEO, resigned as CEO in 2022 amid separate investigations and fully stepped down from TKO Group Holdings—WWE's parent after its 2023 merger with UFC—in 2024 following Grant's suit. In an April 2024 court filing, McMahon denied the claims as "pure fiction," citing a love letter from Grant describing him positively and asserting their relationship was consensual.
TKO stated in January 2024 that it takes the allegations seriously and is handling them internally, noting McMahon does not control the company or oversee WWE operations. The lawsuit continues.
