'Barrage Of People' Looking To Come Forward About WWE's Alleged 'Culture Of Corruption'
Could more people join Janel Grant's lawsuit?
Feb 2, 2024
More alleged victims of Vince McMahon may come forward and join the lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant.
In a lawsuit filed on January 25, Janel Grant accused Vince McMahon of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse. John Laurinaitis, who has since claimed he is also a victim, was accused of sexual assault and WWE was accused of attempting to cover up the allegations against McMahon.
Grant's lawyer Ann Callis previously stated they are hoping other alleged victims of McMahon might come forward. In a new interview with Ashleigh Banfield on NewsNation, Callis was asked if Grant knew of others who might join the suit.
Callis said: "No more than the regular public about the NDAs that everyone has heard who has followed this story. She has no more knowledge than that. Our hope is, and her hope is, by coming out, by stepping forward, by bringing this complaint and putting her face to this complaint, that other victims of Vince McMahon and the WWE will end up becoming public and she wants to help them find their voice and get justice. She thinks and hopes by doing this, she will."
Callis then claimed more people want to come forward, saying: "My office and my inbox have had a barrage of people wanting to come forward to attest about this culture of corruption and also possible victims. We are just beginning now to wade through all this, but we're frankly overwhelmed."
Callis stated that Grant is prepared for the increased scrutiny she will face by going against WWE and Vince McMahon, adding: "I think she is. She has been devasted, dehumanised, and discarded, and she is really a destroyed person physically and mentally. She is also incredibly resilient and incredibly brave. She sustained an undoing onslaught of sexual deviation from Vince McMahon, overlooked by the WWE. She survived that. I think she can survive some scrutiny."
McMahon has resigned as TKO Executive Chairman, although he remains a major shareholder in the company. Grant's lawsuit was a continuation of the hush money scandal that began in 2022 and led to McMahon's resignation as WWE CEO and Chairman. The former WWE owner allegedly paid at least $14.6 million to several women between 2006 and 2022 to suppress sexual misconduct and infidelity allegations. All of the women were subject to nondisclosure agreements.
McMahon later forced his way back into WWE in January 2023 by restructuring the company's board. This led to the merger with UFC under TKO in September 2023.
H/T Fightful