❮
❯
TRENDING
Feb. 1, 2024
WWE’s McMahon Leaves Chairman Role following Sex Trafficking Allegations
WWE owner TKO Group’s executive chairman Vince McMahon has officially resigned, after the emergence of sex-trafficking allegations made by an ex-employee Janel Grant. By: Dylan Low
The
former WWE employee had filed a lawsuit, claiming that McMahon and previous
talent relations SVP John Laurinaitis sexually assaulted and trafficked her. Janel
Grant, has accused the company’s founder, Vince McMahon, of sexually
trafficking her to entice wrestling talent. She also claims that she was
sexually assaulted at WWE.
McMahon,
who will no longer be part of the TKO board, has strongly dismissed the
accusations as he claims they are “lies, obscene made-up instances that never
occurred and a vindictive distortion of the truth”.
He stated that he has made the choice to leave “out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today”.
McMahon’s
departure comes after the decision by TKO Group to combine WWE and UFC
following the merger of the companies, which finalised last September.
UFC’s
holding company Endeavor bought over WWE in an agreement that saw Endeavor’s
Ari Emanuel taking the position of chief executive, as McMahon serves as
chairman.
McMahon
previously stepped down as WWE chairman and CEO amid an investigation of sexual
misconduct allegations, before coming back as executive chairman in January
last year.
His
unexpected departure has come after the major deal between Netflix and WWE that
oversees the streaming platform gaining exclusive rights to WWE’s Raw
programme in North America, the UK and Latin America, amongst other
territories, with more countries and regions to be added in the future.
To never miss a story — sign up for Viral Weekly free newsletter to stay up-to-date with compelling TV and Film
news and views.
