John Laurinaitis Claims He Is Also A Victim In Response To Vince McMahon Lawsuit

The lawyer of John Laurinaitis has claimed in a bombshell statement to VICE News that the former WWE Head of Talent Relations is also a victim of Vince McMahon's, just like former WWE employee Janel Grant. 

Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE on Thursday, January 25, accusing McMahon of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and physical and emotional abuse. Laurinaitis was accused of sexual assault and WWE were accused of attempting to cover up the allegations against McMahon.  

The lawsuit in part alleges that Grant was transferred to work under Laurinaitis in the Talent Relations department in March 2021. Grant, the lawsuit claims, was directed to create "explicit content" for Laurinaitis by McMahon and McMahon arranged a threesome between them. When Grant asked if this was the first time a threesome had been arranged involving Laurinaitis and McMahon, the former WWE Head of Talent Relations declined to answer. 

Upon being transferred to Talent Relations, the lawsuit alleges that "forcible touching and overtly sexual behaviors became part of daily life when he was in the office. On numerous occasions, Ms. Grant was directed to visit Laurinaitis at his hotel room before work to serve herself to him as his 'breakfast.' These devastating experiences made Ms. Grant feel as though she were being pimped out as an object for sexual gratification for her new boss. Upon information and belief, corporate funds from the WWE were used to finance Laurinaitis's hotel stays when these coerced sexual encounters occurred."

McMahon and Laurinaitis allegedly sexually assaulted Grant inside Laurinaitis' office where the two men "cornered her and pulled her in between them, forcibly touched her, before ultimately putting her on top of a table in between them. She begged them to stop, but they forced themselves on her, each taking turns restraining her for the other, while saying 'No means yes' and 'take it, bitch.'"

In a new statement to VICE News, though, John Laurinaitis' lawyer Edward Brennan has claimed his client was a victim. 

Brennan said: "Mr. Laurinaitis denies the allegations in the misguided complaint and will be vigorously defending these charges in Court, not the media. Like the Plaintiff, Mr. Laurinaitis is a victim in this case, not a predator. The truth will come out."

Following pressing from VICE News about whether Brennan was indeed saying that Laurinaitis is a victim, Brennan added: "Read the allegations. Read the Federal Statute. Power, control, employment supervisory capacity, dictatorial sexual demands with repercussions if not met. Count how many times in the complaint Vince exerts control over both of them."

McMahon resigned as TKO Executive Chairman on Friday, January 26 and he is no longer involved with the day-to-day running of WWE. He remains a major shareholder in TKO, owning around 12 percent of the company.

John Laurinaitis was quietly let go by WWE in the Summer of 2022 due to the hush money scandal that led to Vince McMahon's resignation as WWE CEO and Chairman. McMahon allegedly paid at least $14.6 million to several women between 2006 and 2022 to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct. This was in addition to a further $5 million McMahon paid to the Donald Trump Foundation for Trump's appearances on WWE TV in 2007 and 2009. An investigation from the United States Government, which remains ongoing, led to McMahon's resignation.