A new Netflix documentary examining the career of Vince McMahon, the former chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment, premiered on Wednesday, stirring various reactions from those affected by his actions, including one of his accusers.
Titled “Mr. McMahon,” the six-part series incorporates interviews with McMahon and delves into the controversies that have marked his lengthy career, including serious allegations from Janel Grant, a former WWE employee. Grant has accused McMahon in a civil suit of coercing her into a sexual relationship in return for employment.
Ann Callis, Grant’s attorney, noted that Grant has been living in fear since the alleged incidents, saying, “She’s been fearful since she’s been sex trafficked.” Although Grant’s story is highlighted in the documentary, she chose not to participate and has yet to watch the series. Callis explained, “Not having any control over what is said about her does instill some fear… but you know, she’s surviving.”
Callis clarified that Grant prefers to share her story on her terms. “She wants to take ownership of her own story, and I think she deserves the dignity of that,” she stated.
In May, Grant agreed to pause her civil lawsuit as a federal investigation led by the Southern District of New York is underway. Reports indicate that WWE informed last year that McMahon was presented with a federal grand jury subpoena and faced a search warrant. McMahon did not respond to requests for comments, but ahead of the documentary’s launch, he accused the producers of using “typical editing tricks” to promote a misleading narrative, emphasizing that “there are two sides to every story.”
The lawsuit by Grant also claims that WWE executive John Laurinaitis assaulted her, which he has denied. His legal team expressed their commitment to defending against these allegations in court rather than through media channels.
Callis mentioned that her law firm is examining additional claims against McMahon and WWE, describing a “culture of corruption” and a pervasive “culture of victimization of women.” She added, “We’ve heard from women and men that there wasn’t really a safety net there. It was Vince’s show.”
McMahon has achieved fame and fortune by co-founding a business empire worth $8 billion, which has launched the careers of wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan, John Cena, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, all of whom are featured in the docuseries.
The series also highlights other allegations, including claims from former WWE referee Rita Chatterton regarding sexual assault in 1986. In the docuseries, McMahon is quoted as saying, “Once you’re accused of rape, you’re a rapist. But it was consensual. And actually, had it been a rape, the statute of limitations had run out. So it’s all kind of crap like that that people are digging up and trying to find on you.”