Janel Grant Alleges WWE Sought Falsified Statement in First Public Address on McMahon Case
Stamford, Saturday, 21 February 2026.
In her first public appearance regarding sex trafficking allegations against Vince McMahon, Janel Grant revealed WWE representatives allegedly pressured her to sign a statement falsely claiming their relationship was consensual. Grant described TKO’s headquarters as filled with “intimidated people,” renewing scrutiny on corporate governance.
Allegations of Coercion and Corporate Pressure
Speaking on February 19, 2026, at a briefing for the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, Janel Grant disclosed that WWE representatives had previously attempted to secure a joint statement from her characterizing her past relationship with Vince McMahon as consensual [1][2]. According to Grant, this request was accompanied by an offer of additional monetary compensation, which she refused [2]. This disclosure marks Grant’s first public appearance since filing her federal civil lawsuit in January 2024 against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, in which she accuses the former executive of sex trafficking and sexual assault [1][2]. While Laurinaitis has since been dropped from the lawsuit, the allegations against McMahon and the company remain central to ongoing legal proceedings [2].
Systemic Issues and Legal Complexity
Grant painted a stark picture of the corporate environment at the wrestling giant’s headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut. She described the offices as containing “intimidated people” she cares for, asserting that Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) were utilized to conceal dangerous behavior and merely relocate harm to subsequent victims [1]. Grant detailed the extensive legal web surrounding her case, describing “five intersections” associated with her NDA: a Department of Justice federal criminal investigation, a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigation, a shareholder suit, a Second Circuit decision, and her own civil suit [2]. She characterized the NDA as a tool McMahon utilized to justify exploitation while keeping her in a vulnerable position [2].
Regulatory Scrutiny and Governance Fallout
The governance implications for TKO Group Holdings (TKO) remain significant as the company navigates the legacy of its former executive chairman. McMahon, who resigned from TKO and WWE following the filing of Grant’s lawsuit, has denied the allegations [1][2]. However, the financial and regulatory repercussions have been tangible. In January 2025, McMahon was required to repay $1.3 million to WWE and submit to a $400,000 penalty to the SEC [1]. This followed earlier internal investigations in 2022 regarding a secret $3 million settlement with a former employee and reports that McMahon had agreed to pay $12 million in “hush money” to four women [1].
The Human Cost of Corporate Silence
Beyond the corporate and legal mechanics, Grant detailed the severe personal toll exacted by the scandal and the subsequent NDA. Since being “globally outed” by a Wall Street Journal report on June 15, 2022, Grant stated she has lived a life of extreme isolation, leaving her home only ten times in the past year [1][2]. She admitted to contemplating suicide but was prevented from doing so, describing her survival as a “series of miracles” [1]. Grant also criticized WWE’s creative decisions during the summer of 2024, pointing to a storyline involving performers Liv Morgan and Dominik Mysterio [1]. She noted that both reporters and viewers identified uncomfortable parallels between the televised angle and her own traumatic experiences, citing this as a “red flag” regarding the company’s culture [1][2].