Janel Grant's Attorney Says Love Letter's Release Was A Tactic To Intimidate And Victim-Shame Her

Ann Callis - the attorney for Janel Grant - has claimed the publication of the 2,200-word "love letter" email that Grant sent to Vince McMahon on December 24, 2021 by the New York Post is "a tactic to intimidate Janel and victim-shame her."

Callis made the statement during an interview with POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics, while the attorney and former judge also indicated that victims are frequently pressured by their abusers to write love letters and the pattern of behaviour is supported by experts that Callis has been meeting with. Callis also noted that love letters were elements of other sex trafficking cases, including those against Jeffrey Epstein and R. Kelly. 

Janel Grant has an ongoing lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurnaitis. Grant has accused McMahon of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse while WWE are accused of covering up the allegations against McMahon. John Laurinaitis has been accused of sexual assault by Grant. 

Following the publication of the "love letter", Ann Callis claimed that McMahon actually instructed Grant to write the email and love letters were such a frequent task for Grant that she used existing material from pop culture.

Vince McMahon's attorney, Jessica Taub Rosenberg of Kasowitz Benson Torres has previously claimed the allegation that McMahon coerced Grant into writing the letter is "revisionist history" and they have since told POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics in new comments that: "Ms. Grant's letter is multiple pages, includes details of their relationship and indicates she wrote 24 drafts. It makes no sense to coerce someone to write 24 drafts of a multiple-page love letter."

Ann Callis has argued, however, that the number of drafts is simply further proof of Grant's allegations.

"For Vince McMahon, it's further proof of misconduct. Redoing and editing the letter - it wasn't love, it was fear of repercussions. She [Grant] was, frankly, an emotional prisoner and was asked to [write a love letter] by Vince McMahon. This isn't a new thing, like, 'gotcha'. It happens when people are sex trafficked," Callis said. 

McMahon's attorney added: "Ms. Grant wrote this love letter to Mr. McMahon. Her attorney is now desperately trying to explain it away because it shows the relationship was consensual and the lawsuit's allegations are a sham. The false explanation that it was 'coerced' is nonsense. Ms. Grant’s letter is just one piece of evidence demonstrating the relationship was consensual and her allegations in the lawsuit are false. There are more pieces of evidence like this to come that will prove her claims are meritless."

John Laurinaitis' lawyer Edward M. Brennan also told POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics: "My client and I are satisfied that when all the facts become known, Mr. Lauriniatis will be vindicated from the allegations leveled against him. Judge Callis was a learned judge and is a skilled litigator. I anticipate she will ultimately see that Mr. Lauriniatis is, like her client, a victim in this case, and Judge Callis will do the right thing and dismiss my client from this lawsuit. In the event she does not, my client will clear his name and reputation in Court, not in the media."