Vince McMahon responds to Janel Grant’s lawsuit and says that she was not coerced or mistreated.
In January, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, alleging that McMahon and Laurinaitis engaged in sexual assault and sex trafficking of her. McMahon denied the allegations but resigned from WWE and TKO.
A new court filing shows that Vince McMahon has filed to compel arbitration in the lawsuit. McMahon argues that the NDA Grant signed includes an arbitration clause, so the matter should be handled with private arbitration. In the filing, McMahon states that Grant’s “outrageous claims of sexual abuse and coercion are pure fiction—plainly intended to garner publicity—and are flatly contradicted by Plaintiff’s own contemporaneous statements.” (H/t Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics)
Furthermore, McMahon states that he and Grant “engaged in a consensual relationship during which Defendant never coerced Plaintiff into doing anything and never mistreated her in any way.”
Additionally, McMahon denies the claim that Grant was grieving the loss of her parents when they met and says that she was living with her fiance at the time. McMahon also says that it’s “nonsensical that the disturbing alleged acts” Grant alleges occurred before she went back to her fiance, as they lived in the same complex.
Janel Grant’s Lawyer Comments
Ann Callis, an attorney for Janel Grant, issued the following statements.
“Vince McMahon has never known a storyline that he doesn’t twist to fit his own shameful narrative. Her father was in in-home hospice during his final days where Janel continued to care for him around the clock. Prior to his death, she had been caring for her blind, wheelchair-bound mother. Using the grief of someone who lost both of her parents is an all new level of disgusting.
“She was not dating at the time. Her ex-boyfriend allowed her to stay in the apartment as she rebuilt her life and resume post-taking care of her parents. She had no job and no other financial support to lean back on.”
Callis also issued the following response to the letters to McMahon fgrom Grant that were published by McMahon’s side.
“Frankly it’s pretty disgusting that Vince’s weeks-late attempt to defend his horrendous behavior – behavior he claims to this day never happened – is to try to showcase letters that Vince himself coerced her to write.
“His psychological torture of her continues–as is typical of abusive predators who respond to women speaking out with increased threats. While Janel isn’t a stranger to his intimidation tactics, this is a new low even for him.”
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
