Vince McMahon resigns amid sexual misconduct lawsuit

NEW DELHI: Vince McMahon, the co-founder of WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment), has resigned from his position as executive chairman of TKO, the parent group of WWE, following a lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct. The legal action was brought by former WWE employee Janel Grant, who alleged sexual assault, trafficking, and emotional abuse against McMahon and former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.
Grant's complaint, filed in a Connecticut court, claimed that McMahon coerced her into a "sexual relationship," shared explicit photos and videos of her with male colleagues, and subjected her to "increasingly depraved sexual demands," including encounters with Laurinaitis and others.
In response to the allegations, McMahon denied the accusations, stating, "Ms. Grant's lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name."
"However, 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, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately."
Vince McMahon has played a pivotal role in the success of WWE, transforming it from a second-rate league into a global entertainment giant. However, this isn't the first time McMahon has faced scrutiny, as he stepped down as WWE CEO in 2022 amid an internal investigation into allegations of an affair and a $3 million payment to an employee to keep it confidential. The recent resignation comes amid renewed controversies and legal challenges.
(Inputs from agencies)