Report: Vince McMahon "Coerced" Former WWE Star Into Sexual Acts
Shocking new details on allegations against former WWE CEO revealed by the Wall Street Journal.
A content warning follows (coerced sexual acts).
A new wave of reporting by the Wall Street Journal has uncovered multiple new stories of "sexual misconduct" and "infidelity" pertaining to Vince McMahon, founder of WWE.
The article follows a previously reported allegation, after which McMahon publicly stepped down as CEO of the company on June 17 amid an investigation of misconduct from the board of directors - the findings of which have yet to be made public. Stephanie McMahon subsequently took on the role of interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman of WWE while Vince retained control of WWE’s creative process, per a WWE statement.
Per this follow-up article, Vince McMahon agreed to pay in excess of $12 million over the past 16 years to “suppress” such allegations. The payments were made to four women - “all formerly affiliated with WWE” - who “signed agreements with Mr. McMahon that prohibit them from discussing potential legal claims against or their relationships with the 76-year old executive”. The WSJ corroborates the story with “people familiar with the deals as well as documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal”.
$7.5 million of what is described by the WSJ as “hush money” and an “unreported settlement” was paid out to “a former wrestler who alleged that Mr. McMahon coerced her into giving him oral sex and then demoted her and, ultimately, declined to renew her contract in 2005 after she resisted further sexual encounters, according to people familiar with the matter”.
Moreover, “in another deal, a WWE contractor presented the company with unsolicited nude photos of McMahon she reported receiving from him and alleged that he had sexually harassed her on the job, people familiar say. McMahon agreed to pay her roughly $1 million.”
The story continues: “In another agreement, a former manager who had worked for 10 years for McMahon before he allegedly initiated a sexual relationship with her was paid $1 million to keep quiet about it, people familiar say”.
At time of writing, WWE has yet to issue a response to the story.
With thanks to the Wall Street Journal.