Linda McMahon, who is co-leading former President Trump’s transition team, has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) executives permitted years of sexual abuse of young boys by a ringside announcer.
The lawsuit includes McMahon, her husband Vince McMahon, WWE, and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings. Linda McMahon co-founded WWE but left the organization in 2009 to pursue a Senate seat in Connecticut. She later served as the Small Business Administrator under Trump.
The plaintiffs in the case, five survivors of sexual assault who were aged 12 and 13 at the time, claim that WWE knowingly allowed announcer Mel Phillips, who passed away in 2012, to groom young boys. The boys were hired to assist the ring crew and were lured with the promise of meeting professional wrestlers.
“Thanks to the bravery of our clients, we finally have a chance to hold accountable those who enabled the rampant sexual abuse of these young boys,” stated Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt, leading the litigation. “It is unconscionable that so many were aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it.”
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An attorney for Vince McMahon characterized the negligence claims as “absurd, defamatory, and utterly meritless.” Jessica Rosenberg told USA Today, “We will vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident the court will find these claims untrue and unfounded.”
The lawsuit alleges that Phillips had access to private dressing rooms where he filmed inappropriate interactions with the boys. Court documents indicate that Vince McMahon previously recognized Phillips’ “unnatural and peculiar interest” in young boys, leading to Phillips’ initial termination in 1988. However, he was rehired after six weeks with instructions to avoid the ring boys, a directive the plaintiffs claim was ignored.
In August, Trump appointed Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick, CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, to lead his transition team. Critics argue that the campaign is breaking with tradition by refusing to sign transition agreements.
The allegations against WWE are not isolated. Former employee Janel Grant filed a separate lawsuit earlier this year against Vince McMahon, WWE executive John Laurinaitis, and the organization itself, citing sexual assault and human trafficking. Vince McMahon has denied these allegations, calling them lies.
Following these developments, Vince McMahon distanced himself from TKO Group Holdings. A previous investigation revealed he had paid nearly $15 million to settle claims from four women accusing him of sexual misconduct.
The controversial figure is also the subject of a new Netflix documentary series, “Mr. McMahon,” which explores various allegations against him.
