Vince McMahon introduced Friday he’s stepping down from his place as govt chairman of WWE-parent TKO Group Holdings amid the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the wrestling world.
In line with Deadline, McMahon denied the allegations of a the lawsuit that was filed towards him Thursday that accused him of sexual assault and trafficking, however he’s nonetheless resigning from his put up.
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“I stand by my prior assertion that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up situations that by no means occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the reality,” McMahon stated Friday, in keeping with Deadline.
“I intend to vigorously defend myself towards these baseless accusations, and look ahead to clearing my title.
“Nonetheless, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO enterprise and its board members and shareholders, companions and constituents, and all the staff and Superstars who helped make WWE into the worldwide chief it’s at the moment, I’ve determined to resign from my govt chairmanship and the TKO board of administrators, successfully instantly.”
McMahon, the co-founder of the fashionable WWE, was hit with the bombshell lawsuit this week by ex-staffer Janel Grant — which included allegations that he defecated on her throughout a threesome, trafficked her to different WWE executives and sexually abused her with toys he named after wrestling stars.
Workers members had been advised of McMahon’s determination in an electronic mail Friday, in keeping with Selection.
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“I wished to tell you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Govt Chairman and on the TKO Board of Administrators,” WWE president and TKO board member Nick Khan stated in an electronic mail to workers on Friday, per Selection. “He’ll now not have a task with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
Grant’s lawsuit comes after the Wall Avenue Journal reported in 2023 that the WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million fee from McMahon to a departing feminine worker following a consensual affair.
Grant, who was not beforehand named earlier than this week’s allegations got here to gentle, claims in her new lawsuit that after she signed on NDA to maintain issues below wraps, she acquired $1 million however no additional funds.
Grant, 43, who beforehand labored in WWE’s authorized and expertise departments named McMahon, 78, WWE and John Laurinaitis, the corporate’s former head of expertise relations and common supervisor, within the lawsuit.
In 2019, Grant allegedly was launched to McMahon on the luxurious rental the place they each lived, the Park Tower Stamford — a 36-story rental tower previously referred to as Trump Parc Stamford.
In March of that yr, McMahon allegedly promised her a job with the corporate after her dad and mom died, however Grant has alleged that this entailed having a sexual relationship with him.
McMahon allegedly shared nude pictures of her to different staff and directed her to have intercourse with different executives and a wrestling star, in keeping with the lawsuit.
The lawsuit additionally alleges that McMahon texted Grant in 2020: “I’m the one one who owns U and controls who I wish to f— U.s”
Grant alleges that McMahon’s use of intercourse toys additionally precipitated her accidents.
“Ms. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will stop different girls from being victimised,” Ann Callis, her legal professional, stated in an announcement Thursday. “The organisation is nicely conscious of Mr. McMahon’s historical past of wicked behaviour, and it’s time that they take accountability for the misconduct of its management.”
McMahon had initially stepped down from WWE in 2022 however returned in 2023 and helped merge WWE and UFC, forming TKO Group Holdings.
This story initially appeared on the New York Publish and has been reposted with permission