After the release of Netflix Mr. McMahon, all eyes are on the former WWE executive and his recent accusations of sexual misconduct and trafficking. Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, filed a lawsuit in January 2024, alleging that he abused and sexually exploited her.
Grant accused McMahon, WWE, and former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis of sexual assault, trafficking of civil battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress in relation. The lawsuit claims that McMahon and Laurinaitis used her “for their own pleasure and as a pawn to secure talent deals with prospective wrestlers they were recruiting.” Following the lawsuit, McMahon resigned from WWE’s parent company TKO.
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McMahon and Grant lived in the same apartment building and the latter was “dealing with profound grief and struggling financially” when she couldn’t find a job. McMahon promised her a job after a sexual encounter and joined WWE. She alleges that he coerced her into sexual acts with other WWE employees and shared sexually explicit photos and videos without her consent. Many of the exchanges were screenshotted and used as evidence in the lawsuit.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
What were Vince McMahon’s texts?
Below are the alleged texts that Vince McMahon exchanged with Janel Grant in the lawsuit obtained by Variety.
May 9, 2019
Vince McMahon texted Grant that she would have a job at WWE by that Friday.
May 11, 2020
Image Credit: Variety In section 138, Vince McMahon detailed his fantasies of seeing her engaged in sexual relations.
May 12, 2020
McMahon texts Grant, “i’m the only one who owns U and controls who I want to fuck U.”
July 2020
Image Credit: Variety Vince McMahon texts Grant that he’s been sharing explicit pictures of her with the WWE crew.
August 28, 2020
After a sexual encounter, Grant texted that she was “in pain and “bleeding a lot between last night and today” and “I’m on the floor right now bcuz I can’t get comfortable” and on August 29, 2020, she texted him an update that she was “still really uncomfortable” and “I got hurt in some way that I’m having trouble describing.” McMahon apologized, saying that, “Sometimes I just get carried away.”
January 2021
Following a threesome with McMahon, Grant, and Laurinaitis, the WWE executive texted her that the latter “hugged me like a bear and said thank you to me about 12 times already.” In contrast, Laurinaitis messaged
Grant, “Thanks for the fun afternoon.”February 5, 2021
Image Credit: Variety Grant rebuffs messages to arrange sexual encounters with other men from McMahon.
April 2, 2021
Image Credit: Variety McMahon indicated that Grant should obey if Laurinatis brings in more men.
May 24, 2021
Image Credit: Variety McMahon demands that they do verbal communication instead of written.
March 12, 2021
McMahon reminded Grant of the connection between her job and her role as a sexual object: “Let’s work hard and PLAY hard too !!!”
March 22, 2021
McMahon texted Grant, “Do U promise to make me proud Baby? Will U show him what a Porno Star U can B. Will U Show Off for me like never before ????” and “On days when he’s in town, I want him to fuck U every morning and later In the office too.”
August 21, 2021
Image Credit: Variety After WWE’s SummerSlam at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, McMahon texted Grant that she was an enslaved object to him. “I want to drive U lower and lower. So low that U might beg me to sell U”
