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☆ Vince McMahon and WWE accused of allowing 'rampant' sexual exploitation of young boys by announcer in new lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Patrick-Smith-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Patrick Smith | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Vince McMahon and the WWE have been accused of knowing about and failing to stop the sexual exploitation of young boys by a ringside announcer, in a lawsuit filed on behalf of five alleged victims Wednesday. NBC News has contacted the McMahons, TKO and the WWE for comment; none have so far responded or commented on the case publicly. The suit alleges that Phillips would abuse the claimants in his dressing room while filming it with a video camera. The suit accuses the McMahons of long knowing of Phillips’ “peculiar and unnatural interest” in young boys. "Thanks to the bravery of our clients, we finally have a chance to hold accountable those who allowed and enabled the open, rampant sexual abuse of these young boys," he said.

Persons: Vince McMahon, McMahon, Linda McMahon, Melvin Phillips Jr, Phillips, DiCello Levitt, Murphy, John, Greg Gutzler, Janel Grant, ”, Mr, Grant, Marci Hamilton Organizations: WWE, Wrestling Entertainment, Holdings, NBC News, Falcon, Netflix, Child USA Locations: Baltimore County, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Florida, Janel, Maryland

☆ Vince McMahon, embattled former CEO of WWE, sued for allegedly enabling sexual abuse
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( John Towfighi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Baltimore CNN —A new lawsuit alleges Vince McMahon knowingly enabled the sexual exploitation of children by a WWE employee in the 1980s. As early as 1992, New York Post columnist Phil Mushnick wrote about Phillips’ alleged abuse of Ring Boys at the WWE. The lawsuit alleges McMahon was aware of Phillips’ abuse of the children. Phillips would often film his sexual abuse of the underage Ring Boys on video camera, the lawsuit alleges. WWE founder Vince McMahon resigned from the WWE and its parent company TKO as executive chairman and board of directors following allegations of sexual assault in a Connecticut lawsuit.

Persons: Vince McMahon, ”, McMahon, Linda McMahon, Melvin Phillips , Jr, “ Phillips, “, Phillips, Jessica Rosenberg, Phil Mushnick, Phillips ’, ” Rosenberg, Mushnick, John, —, Philips, Janel Grant, John Moore, Donald Trump’s, Rita Chatterton Organizations: Baltimore CNN, WWE, Holdings, Boys, Small Business Administration, Street Locations: New York, Baltimore County , Maryland, Stamford , Connecticut, Connecticut

The six-part "Mr. McMahon" features interviews from McMahon and touches on controversies that have plagued his decades-long career. "I think she’s fearful, but that is her general state of mind," said Ann Callis, who is Grant's attorney. Vince McMahon announces Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has joined the Board of Directors for TKO at the New York Stock Exchange, in New York City, on Jan. 23. "If I could sum it up generally, it is a culture of corruption," Callis said. "Once you’re accused of rape, you’re a rapist," McMahon says in the docuseries.

Persons: Wrestling Entertainment's Vince McMahon, Mr, McMahon, Janel Grant, Ann Callis, She’s, she’s, Vince McMahon, Dwayne, Johnson, Michelle Farsi, Callis, Grant, she's, Janel, ”, John Laurinaitis, We’ve, Hulk Hogan, John Cena, Rita Chatterton, you’re Organizations: Wrestling, Netflix, WWE, New York Stock Exchange, Southern, of, NBC News Locations: New York City, of New York

As a federal criminal investigation hangs over former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Vince McMahon, a new documentary series on Netflix offers a rare look at the man credited with turning professional wrestling into a cultural juggernaut. The series only briefly touches on the lawsuit filed against McMahon in January by former WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused him of sexual abuse and trafficking. Grant, who filed the suit against McMahon this year, did not participate in the documentary, according to her attorney, Ann Callis. McMahon,” the on-screen character that was born during the late 1990s “Attitude Era” of WWE, which was known for pushing into R-rated territory. When McMahon is asked in the fourth episode of the Netflix series what similarities he has with the Mr. McMahon character, he responds, “None whatsoever.” But in the sixth episode, he admits some overlap.

Persons: Vince McMahon, McMahon, Janel Grant, Rita Chatterton, you’re, ”, ” McMahon, Phil Mushnick, Owen Hart, “, “ I’d, Chris Benoit, “ I’m, Grant, Ann Callis, Vince, Mr, Shawn Michaels Organizations: World Wrestling Entertainment, Netflix, WWE, New York, Street Journal

The attorney for the woman who has accused Vince McMahon of sex trafficking said Thursday, as a Netflix documentary about the former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO is set to premiere next week, that she's hopeful he will soon be indicted. In a media call, Callis said she and Grant are "hopeful" an indictment will be imminent and are fine with the pace of the U.S. attorney's work. He will vigorously defend himself.”McMahon resigned as executive chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment's parent company after the lawsuit was filed. Grant’s lawsuit also names WWE and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis as defendants. WWE disclosed last summer that investigators served McMahon with a federal grand jury subpoena and executed a search warrant.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Ann Callis, Janel Grant, McMahon, Callis, Grant, ” McMahon, John Laurinaitis, Mr, ”, Kendra Barkoff Lamy Organizations: Netflix, World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, U.S, Attorney, Southern, of, World Wrestling, NBC News Locations: Janel, of New York

☆ Former WWE employee suing Vince McMahon agrees to pause her case pending a federal investigation, lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon speaks at a news conference announcing the WWE Network at the 2014 International CES in Las Vegas. Janel Grant, a former employee of World Wrestling Entertainment who in a January lawsuit accused founder Vince McMahon of sex trafficking and abuse, has agreed to temporarily pause her case pending a federal investigation. An attorney for McMahon maintained that the allegations against McMahon were false. WWE and its parent company, TKO , have said that they take Grant's allegations "very seriously." WWE had disclosed last summer that investigators served McMahon with a federal grand jury subpoena and executed a search warrant in July.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, Grant, Ann Callis, McMahon, Jessica Rosenberg, John Laurinaitis, Callis, Laurinaitis Organizations: WWE, WWE Network, World Wrestling Entertainment, NBC News, U.S, Attorney, Southern, of, The Southern, District of Connecticut, World Wrestling Locations: Las Vegas, of New York, U.S

WWE and its parent company, TKO, have said that they take Grant's allegations "very seriously." Staying in touchMcMahon has also talked to Trump, according to two of the people close to the wrestling impresario. The two billionaires have been in touch regularly, according to a person close to McMahon, although it isn't clear what they've discussed. Another person close to McMahon said that the two men don't discuss their legal problems and that Trump doesn't provide legal advice. Publicly, Johnson has thanked TKO and WWE executives regarding his addition to the TKO board earlier this year.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Donald Trump, Mark, McMahon, Janel Grant, he's, hasn't, Mark Shapiro, doesn't, McMahon hasn't, Paul, Levesque, Stephanie McMahon, wasn't, Jessica Rosenberg, Grant's, Jan, John Laurinaitis, Janel, couldn't, Ann Callis, Grant, Nicholas Biase, Linda McMahon, McMahon's, Bill Pugliano, Donald J, Trump, Dwayne, Johnson, John Cena, Cena, Howard Stern, I'm, William Morris, Cena didn't, Endeavor Group's, Ari Emanuel, Brendan Mcdermid Organizations: WWE, Austin Straubel, Getty, World Wrestling, NBC News, CNBC, Triple, Federal, U.S, Attorney's, Southern, of, Trump, WWE Hall of Fame, PAC, Trump Media, Technology Group, Street Journal, Trump Foundation, Hollywood, William, William Morris Endeavor, Endeavor Group, Endeavor, Endeavor Group's UFC, Longtime Hollywood, New York Stock Exchange Locations: Green Bay , Wisconsin, United States, Caicos, Italy, of New York, Connecticut, Manhattan, Atlantic City, Trump's, York, New York City, U.S

Last week, the company, McMahon and a former WWE executive were sued by a former employee alleging those crimes. McMahon has also discussed being under federal investigation and having a phone seized by federal officials, a senior-level WWE executive and another personal friend told NBC News. Representatives for McMahon, TKO Group and WWE did not immediately respond Friday to requests for comment on the federal investigation. McMahon is no stranger to allegations of sexual assault — and has survived several during his reign at the company. McMahon also faced federal conspiracy charges alleging orchestrated steroid use among WWE wrestlers, and he was found not guilty by a jury in 1994.

Persons: Vince McMahon, McMahon, Nicholas Biase, Janel Grant, John Laurinaitis, Laurinaitis, Rita Chatterton Organizations: MetLife, Former, Wrestling Entertainment, NBC News, WWE, U.S, Attorney's Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey

☆ The WWE knew Vince McMahon was a liability. So why did it bring him back after his scandalous departure?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Kyle Feldscher | David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —WWE’s parent company knew Vince McMahon — the founder of the wrestling behemoth — was a potential liability. That risk was realized Thursday when a former WWE employee accused McMahon of sexual assault and trafficking in a disturbing and graphic lawsuit. The company said McMahon has since repaid the company about $20 million for misappropriated corporate funds and for the legal fees TKO and WWE paid to investigate McMahon. Vince McMahon, Jr., was more akin to a king than a business executive in the world of WWE, his fingerprints on everything. “I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the special committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation,” McMahon said in a statement at the time.

Persons: Vince McMahon, —, McMahon, ”, Janel Grant, behemoth McMahon, “, Nick Khan, McMahon’s, Donald Trump’s, Donald J, ” McMahon, McMahon, — Vince McMahon, Vince McMahon’s, Stephanie, Jr, reinstalling, Stephanie McMahon —, Khan, What’s, Grant, CNN’s Sam Delouya, Elizabeth Wagmeister Organizations: CNN, WWE, Companies, US Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Wall Street, Trump Foundation, UFC, Endeavor, Securities and Exchange Commission

☆ Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque makes public comments after WWE employee’s sex trafficking accusations against Vince McMahon
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | Eva Rothenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Paul “Triple H” Levesque, the chief content officer at World Wrestling Entertainment, made his first public comments after Vince McMahon resigned Friday from the board of WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, in the wake of a former employee’s lawsuit accusing McMahon of sex trafficking, sexual assault and physical abuse. The horrifying allegations against McMahon were brought forward by Janel Grant, who worked at WWE’s headquarters. Grant alleged McMahon promised a job — and later promotions — at WWE in exchange for sex. Grant’s lawsuit also includes allegations McMahon trafficked her to other men inside and outside the company, including John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler who worked in the company’s talent relations department. The deal valued the newly combined company at over $21 billion, with WWE shareholders owning 49% of the combined company.

Persons: New York CNN — Paul “, New York CNN — Paul “ Triple H ” Levesque, Vince McMahon, McMahon, WWE’s, Levesque, McMahon’s, ” Levesque, he’s, Janel Grant, Grant, —, John Laurinaitis, Laurinaitis, Ari, Cody Rhodes, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Samantha Delouya, Elizabeth Wagmeister, Jordan Valinsky Organizations: New, New York CNN, New York CNN — Paul “ Triple, World Wrestling Entertainment, Holdings, WWE, Endeavor, UFC, Netflix Locations: New York, St . Petersburg , Florida, WWE’s, Laurinaitis, Hollywood

☆ Sex Assault Claims Against McMahon Shadow a W.W.E. Trying to Move Forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Kevin Draper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It was a bombastic end to one of the most consequential, and tumultuous, weeks in W.W.E.’s history. In the days between the Netflix deal and “Royal Rumble,” however, came a stark reminder of how sordid legal entanglements from the company’s recent past could reverberate in the present. employee, Janel Grant, sued Vince McMahon — the co-founder of what would become W.W.E. and the executive chairman of the board of TKO Group — and accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. Mr. McMahon called the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, a “vindictive distortion of the truth,” but on Friday he resigned from the TKO board.

Persons: Cody Rhodes, ”, Dwayne Johnson, —, Janel Grant, Vince McMahon, McMahon, Mr Organizations: Netflix Locations: W.W.E, U.S, Connecticut

☆ Vince McMahon resigns from WWE parent company board following sex abuse lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

According to a statement released late Friday, McMahon stepped down from the board of directors at WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings. The WWE board began investigating allegations that McMahon paid off accusers for their silence following his resignation as CEO. TKO Group Holdings referred Business Insider to McMahon's statement. Advertisement"Mr. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE," TKO Group said earlier this week. Representatives for Grant did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Vince McMahon, McMahon, Janel Grant, Grant, Nick Khan Organizations: Service, Business, Holdings, WWE, World Wrestling Federation Locations: Connecticut

☆ Vince McMahon, WWE founder, resigns amid sex trafficking allegations
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Vince McMahon has resigned from his role as executive chairman of TKO, the parent company of WWE, following disturbing allegations of sexual assault, trafficking and physical abuse. In the lawsuit, Grant alleged that McMahon dangled a job offer at WWE – and later promotions – in exchange for sex. McMahon engaged in acts of “extreme cruelty and degradation” toward Grant during her time at WWE, the lawsuit alleged. He initially retired from his role as CEO and chairman of WWE in July 2022 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. The investigation was closed in November 2022 and McMahon returned to WWE’s board in January 2023.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, behemoth McMahon, McMahon, ” McMahon, Grant, John Laurinaitus, Nick Khan, ” Khan, “ McMahon, ” McMahon’s, Grant’s, Ari, “, Ann Callis, McMahon’s, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, ”, Johnson Organizations: CNN, WWE, UFC, Hollywood, Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor Group, Netflix Locations: Laurinaitis

McMahon stepped down from the his position as executive chairman of the board of directors at WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, according to a statement released late Friday. McMahon's statement said that he was leaving the board “out of respect” for WWE and TKO Group. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,” TKO Group said earlier this week. According to the lawsuit, McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and in 2019 offered to get her a job at WWE after her parents died. “WWE benefited financially from the commercial sex act venture orchestrated by McMahon, including by having wrestling talent, such as WWE Superstar, sign new contracts with WWE after McMahon presented Plaintiff as a sexual commodity for their use,” the lawsuit states.

Persons: Vince McMahon, McMahon, Janel Grant, Grant, ”, “, ” McMahon, “ Mr, ” Grant, John Laurinaitis, Laurinaitis, McMahon lavished, —, Ms, Ann Callis Organizations: WWE, AP, World Wrestling Federation, Holdings, “ WWE Locations: STAMFORD, Conn, Connecticut

Vince McMahon, executive chairman of the board of TKO Group Holdings and founder of wrestling giant WWE, has resigned his positions at both companies, according to a WWE memo obtained by CNBC and confirmed by the company. "Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE," said Nick Khan, president of the WWE. The announcement came in the wake of allegations made public Thursday, of sexual assault and sex trafficking, against McMahon. The latest allegations against McMahon were in a lawsuit filed by Janel Grant — who alleges McMahon directed her to have sex with a WWE "superstar" and other men.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Nick Khan, McMahon, Janel Grant —, Grant's, Grant, John Laurinaitis Organizations: WWE, MetLife, Holdings, CNBC Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey, U.S, Connecticut

☆ Vince McMahon Cuts W.W.E. Ties After Sex Trafficking Accusation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Kevin Draper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vince McMahon, the longtime chairman and former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, resigned from the board of W.W.E.’s parent company on Friday, one day after a former employee accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking in a lawsuit. Mr. McMahon, 78, was the executive chairman of TKO Group, the parent company of W.W.E., where he no longer held a formal position. “He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or W.W.E.,” Mr. Khan wrote in the email, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Connecticut, accuses Mr. McMahon of trafficking the employee, Janel Grant, as well as physically and emotionally abusing her. executive, and the company itself as defendants, says that Mr. McMahon and Mr. Laurinaitis had once taken turns raping Ms. Grant, among numerous other allegations.

Persons: Vince McMahon, McMahon, Nick Khan, “, ” Mr, Khan, Mr, Janel Grant, John Laurinaitis, Laurinaitis, Grant Organizations: World Wrestling Entertainment, The New York Times Locations: Connecticut

☆ Vince McMahon accused of trafficking former WWE employee in new lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Samantha Delouya | Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —A former WWE staffer has accused the company’s founder, Vince McMahon, of sexual assault, trafficking and physical abuse in a lawsuit filed Thursday. In a statement, WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, said McMahon does not control TKO or oversee day-to-day operations at WWE. Led by McMahon, WWE and UFC, a mixed-martial arts entertainment competitor, announced in April 2023 that they would combine to form TKO. Lawsuit details disturbing allegationsAccording to the lawsuit, Grant was introduced to McMahon in 2019 when she was looking for work. The lawsuit also detailed an alleged sexual assault among Grant, McMahon and Laurinaitis that occurred at WWE’s headquarters in 2021.

Persons: CNN —, Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, McMahon, Grant, –, John Laurinaitis, ”, WME, Ann Callis, “, ” Callis, Mr, ” McMahon, Ari, Dwayne “, ” Johnson, Johnson Organizations: CNN, WWE, UFC, ” WWE, Endeavor, Netflix Locations: Connecticut, McMahon’s, Laurinaitis, Hollywood

A former WWE employee filed a federal lawsuit Thursday accusing executive Vince McMahon and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct, including offering her to a star wrestler for sex. Grant also names as defendants in the lawsuit the WWE and John Laurinaitis, the company's former head of talent relations and general manager. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE," TKO Group said in a statement. According to the lawsuit, McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and in 2019 offered to get her a job at WWE after her parents died. “WWE benefited financially from the commercial sex act venture orchestrated by McMahon, including by having wrestling talent, such as WWE Superstar, sign new contracts with WWE after McMahon presented Plaintiff as a sexual commodity for their use,” the lawsuit states.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, McMahon, Grant, John Laurinaitis, Ann Callis, ”, “ Mr, Laurinaitis, McMahon lavished, — Organizations: WWE, AP, “ WWE, World Wrestling Federation, Holdings Locations: U.S, Connecticut

☆ WWE boss Vince McMahon accused of sexual assault and trafficking in new lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Vince McMahon attends a press conference at MetLife Stadium on February 16, 2012 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. WWE boss Vince McMahon was accused Thursday of sexual assault, trafficking, and physical and emotional abuse in a lawsuit by a woman who previously worked for the pro wrestling giant. The suit says McMahon only paid her $1 million, "but failed to make any further payments." In addition to McMahon, the suit names WWE and John Laurinaitis, the former head of talent relations and general manager, as defendants. McMahon's lawyer, and spokespeople for the WWE and TKO did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Vince McMahon, Janel Grant, McMahon, Grant, John Laurinaitis Organizations: MetLife, WWE, Connecticut federal, UFC, TKO, Holdings Locations: East Rutherford , New Jersey, Connecticut

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