Janel Grant’s attorneys held a remote press briefing on Thursday, providing updates on her lawsuit against WWE, Vince McMahon, and John Laurinaitis, filed in January. Grant, a former WWE employee, alleges she was subjected to sex trafficking and sexual assault while under the control of McMahon.
The media call comes just ahead of the Sept. 25 release of Mr. McMahon, a six-part docuseries on Netflix.
Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, began by reiterating Grant’s experience as a survivor of “incomprehensible abuse,” describing the extreme cruelty inflicted by McMahon from 2019 through early 2022. Callis said Grant now suffers from PTSD, suicidal ideation, and an inability to leave her home for extended periods.
Grant’s representatives confirmed that she didn’t participate in the Netflix docuseries Mr. McMahon, which will premiere next Wednesday. Callis expressed hope that the series would accurately portray McMahon’s “abhorrent actions” but voiced concerns about previous media representations of Grant.
“Many stories in recent months have not portrayed her the way she deserves,” Callis said, as she mentioned the new involvement of Kendra Barkoff Lamy from SKDK, a communications firm experienced in working with survivors of high-profile abuse cases, such as those involving Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and others.
Callis confirmed that Grant’s civil lawsuit against WWE, McMahon, and Laurinaitis remains active and is currently staying at the federal government’s request as part of an ongoing investigation led by the Southern District of New York (SDNY). The six-month stay runs until December, and the attorneys expressed hope that charges will be brought expeditiously, allowing Grant’s civil case to resume. An earlier report, in February, outlined that U.S. Attorneys from the SDNY are investigating allegations of sex trafficking and sexual assault against McMahon.
When asked about the pace of the investigation, Callis acknowledged the complexities involved but emphasized the importance of thoroughness: “We want it to be right, not fast.”
Callis said they have every reason to believe Grant isn’t the only victim of abuse by McMahon. Reportedly, McMahon has agreed to at least four other nondisclosure agreements with women who worked for WWE who have sexual misconduct claims against him. While the team has not spoken to any current victims, they believe others could come forward, citing the existence of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to the case.
Throughout the call, questions centered on the portrayal of Grant and her story in the Mr. McMahon docuseries. Grant’s team confirmed they had not seen the documentary and reiterated that Grant “deserves the opportunity to tell her own story in her own way at the right time.”
Responding to concerns about the documentary potentially whitewashing WWE executives who were anonymized in Grant’s lawsuit, or cherry-picking Grant’s story, Callis declined to criticize the project and said she’s confident Grant will have her day in court. In a report last March, Callis confirmed that the identities of the WWE executives referred to the complaint — who are alleged to have known about McMahon’s relationship with Grant, but aren’t alleged to have had knowledge or participated in abuse — are current WWE President Nick Khan, former WWE executive Stephanie McMahon, former WWE Chief Operating Officer Brad Blum, and former WWE General Counsel Brian Nurse.
Callis noted the team’s efforts to obtain communications between McMahon and Dr. Carlon Colker, a physician who treated Grant during her time with WWE, as part of their bill of discovery.
When asked about contact from WWE or former employees, Callis stated there had been some initial outreach after the lawsuit was filed, though it was brief.
The call closed with a focus on humanizing Grant. “Janel is a human being who deserves justice,” Callis emphasized. “She deserves her day in court. That’s our bottom line. She’s a victim and a survivor. She’s not a WWE storyline.”
Barkoff Lamy closed saying that Grant’s alleged abuse should inform the media’s reporting on her story.
“I think it’s really important to note the emotional trauma she’s experienced,” Barkoff said, “And add [that to] your thinking about how you want to frame your stories and how you want to report on this in the future.”
