A former WWE employee has filed a lawsuit against the company and ex-leader Vince McMahon, alleging sexual battery and trafficking. The former employee is now urging WWE not to enforce nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) with other former and current employees and contractors, potentially allowing them to come forward with similar accusations.
The lawsuit, filed by the former employee who worked in WWE's legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022, includes graphic allegations of sexual assault, harassment, trafficking, and other forms of abuse against McMahon and another former WWE executive and wrestler, John Laurinaitis.
McMahon, who has denied the allegations, stepped down as WWE's CEO in 2022 amid an investigation into the claims made by the former employee. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings following the lawsuit.
The former employee's attorney has requested WWE and its parent company, Endeavor Group Holdings, to release former employees from their NDAs, stating that it is a crucial step in addressing the toxic workplace culture allegedly created by McMahon.
In response to the lawsuit, McMahon has vehemently denied the accusations, claiming they are baseless and a distortion of the truth. His lawyers maintain that he had a consensual relationship with the former employee and never mistreated her.
The lawsuit also alleges that McMahon pressured the former employee into leaving her job and signing a $3 million NDA, which the former employee now seeks to have declared invalid.
Grant's request for the release of NDAs is part of a broader movement to address sexual misconduct allegations in various industries. The use of NDAs to silence accusers while allowing alleged abusers to evade accountability has been criticized by victim advocates and lawmakers.
McMahon, a prominent figure in the wrestling industry, has faced previous allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2022, he settled a lawsuit with a former wrestling referee who accused him of rape in 1986, a claim McMahon vehemently denies.
The lawsuit against McMahon and WWE highlights the ongoing conversation around workplace harassment and the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing such allegations.
