A new report by the Wall Street Journal claims that WWE CEO Vince McMahon paid $12 to four women over the last 16 years to keep any sexual misconduct allegations quiet.
McMahon is currently under investigation by the WWE’s board after it was learned he paid $3 million to cover up an affair he had with a paralegal.
The paralegal was reportedly making $100k a year, but while their affair was going on it was reported she received a raise to $200k during the pandemic when the company was making roster cuts due to budget concerns.
Payments made
The four settlements that have come to light in the new report include the one we mentioned above that has been reported as consensual.
The three others, going back through the years, include the following:
– A $7.5 million payment in 2018 to a former wrestler who claimed that 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.”
– A payment of roughly $1 million was made in 2008 to a WWE contractor when they “presented the company with unsolicited nude photos of Mr. McMahon she reported receiving from him and alleged that he had sexually harassed her on the job.”
– Another $1 million was paid in 2006 to a former WWE manager of 10 years who claimed McMahon “initiated a sexual relationship with her.”
McMahon isn’t the only one that’s being investigated as John Laurinaitis own accusations are being looked into and they reportedly involve a $1.5 million nondisclosure agreement from 2012.
Stepping down
While McMahon voluntarily stepped down from his CEO and Chairman of the Board on June 17 due to the investigation, Laurinaitis is reportedly on administrative leave pending the outcome.
McMahon has pledged his complete cooperation with the investigation and to accept the findings. Until then, Stephanie McMahon has stepped into her father’s position while he remains in control of WWE Creative.
This move has led many fans to speculate that Vince still runs things through his daughter, who had left her previous position as Chief Brand Officer for reportedly not meeting expectations of growth for the company.
There will undoubtedly be more reports coming, and we’ll keep you updated on any new developments the investigation finds and releases.
Do you think there’s more that’ll be uncovered? Let us know in the comments below.
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