Vince McMahon, who is already facing a shocking lawsuit regarding sexual assault and trafficking, is now also being accused of concealing the alleged rape of a former female employee who tragically took her own life. Additionally, he is accused of sexually harassing her.
According to VICE News, John Laurinitis, the former head of Talent Relations and a co-defendant in the lawsuit brought forth by Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, is implicated as well.
Laurinitis, along with several high-ranking WWE executives, was allegedly aware of the allegations. In a sworn affidavit released after her death in 2019, the late employee, Janel Grant, stated that she was injected with a paralytic drug and raped by an individual claiming to be a U.S. Army doctor while the WWE was on tour in Kuwait in 2006. However, Laurinitis’ lawyer objected to the term “cover-up.”
Previously, WWE had stated that the executives were unaware of the allegations made by Grant.
In her affidavit, Grant revealed that McMahon had told her not to let one negative experience overshadow the positive work they were doing. This statement was reported by VICE News.
The Naval Criminal Intelligence Service initiated an investigation into the alleged rape in June 2019, but it was closed a few months later, according to VICE News.
Konstantine Kryos, Grant’s lawyer, has claimed that Grant’s career in WWE ended when she rejected McMahon’s advances. Paul London, Grant’s ex-boyfriend and a former WWE wrestler, also stated on the Cafe de Rene with Rene Dupree podcast that Grant was a victim of McMahon’s sexual misconduct.
Kryos further explained on NewsNation’s Banfield Podcast, “And so my understanding from Ashley, and I think this was well known to anybody with even remote familiarity with the WWE, the allegations were that Mr. McMahon himself was commonly seen kissing the Divas in the rooms and so forth, and that when she rejected his advances, she met the fate of many other wrestlers, which was that her career was going to come to an end, and that’s essentially what happened.”
McMahon has resigned from TKO, the parent company of WWE. Both McMahon and Laurinitis deny the allegations made in Grant’s lawsuit.
Edward Brennan, Laurinitis’ lawyer, stated, “Any allegations that Mr. Laurinaitus helped to conceal an alleged rape allegation is an outright lie. Johnny, like most upper-level management, became aware of the allegations at some point and ensured that all proper WWE protocols were followed, including providing privacy for the alleged victim. We object to the use of the term ‘cover-up’ as there was no plan or plot to hide or assist in the alleged rape.”