STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) 鈥� Wrestling icon Vince McMahon resigned Friday from WWE's parent company t accusing him and another former executive of serious sexual misconduct, including offering her to a star wrestler for sex.
stepped down from the his position as executive chairman of the board of directors at WWE鈥檚 parent company, TKO Group Holdings, according to a statement released late Friday. He continued to deny wrongdoing following the lawsuit filed by Janel Grant, who worked in the company鈥檚 legal and talent departments.
The suit includes allegations that McMahon, now 78, forced Grant into a sexual relationship in order for her to get and keep a job and passed around pornographic pictures and videos of her to other men, including other WWE employees.
The AP typically does not name accusers in sexual assault cases, but Grant鈥檚 representatives said she wished to go public. Her lawyer declined to comment Friday.
McMahon's statement said that he was leaving the board 鈥渙ut of respect鈥� for .
鈥淚 stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant鈥檚 lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,鈥� he said in the statement. 鈥淚 intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.鈥�
as WWE鈥檚 CEO in 2022 amid an that match those in the lawsuit, which was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in sa国际传媒icut, where WWE is based.
and most recognizable face at WWE for decades. When he purchased what was then the World Wrestling Federation from his father in 1982, wrestling matches took place at small venues and appeared on local cable channels. WWE matches are now held in professional sports stadiums, and the organization has a sizable overseas following.
with the company that runs Ultimate Fighting Championship to create the $21.4 billion sports entertainment company TKO Group Holdings, and McMahon served as that group鈥檚 executive chairman of the board until Friday.
TKO Group's representative referred media inquiries about McMahon's resignation to his statement. first reported that he was stepping down.
鈥淢r. McMahon does not control TKO nor does he oversee the day-to-day operations of WWE,鈥� TKO Group said earlier this week. 鈥淲hile this matter pre-dates our TKO executive team鈥檚 tenure at the company, we take Ms. Grant鈥檚 horrific allegations very seriously and are addressing this matter internally.鈥�
Grant also names as defendants in the lawsuit the WWE and John Laurinaitis, an ex-pro wrestler and the company鈥檚 former head of talent relations and general manager. WWE and Laurinaitis did not return requests for comment Friday.
According to the lawsuit, McMahon lived in the same building as Grant and in 2019 offered to get her a job at WWE after her parents died.
She alleges that he eventually made it clear that one of the requirements of the job was a physical relationship with him and later with Laurinaitis and others.
Over the next few years, McMahon lavished her with gifts including a luxury car, the suit says.
It also alleges that McMahon offered one of his star wrestlers 鈥� a person not named in the lawsuit 鈥� sex with Grant as a perk in 2021.
鈥淲WE benefited financially from the commercial sex act venture orchestrated by McMahon, including by having wrestling talent, such as WWE Superstar, sign new contracts with WWE after McMahon presented Plaintiff as a sexual commodity for their use,鈥� the lawsuit states.
Grant is seeking unspecified monetary damages and to have the court void a $3 million nondisclosure agreement, of which she alleges she received only $1 million.
鈥淢s. Grant hopes that her lawsuit will prevent other women from being victimized,鈥� her attorney, Ann Callis, said in a statement Thursday. 鈥淭he organization is well aware of Mr. McMahon鈥檚 history of depraved behavior, and it鈥檚 time that they take responsibility for the misconduct of its leadership.鈥�
The Associated Press
