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Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon is facing another significant legal challenge, as the company (WWE) has been sued over allegations of abuse involving "ring boys." The lawsuit, filed on October 23, targets McMahon, his wife Linda, WWE, and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, marking a troubling moment for the organization.
This latest lawsuit comes in the wake of a tumultuous week for WWE, which also saw prominent announcer Samantha Irvin announce her departure from the company. While her exit is unrelated to the lawsuit, it adds to the difficulties the organization is experiencing.
What is the lawsuit about?
In the new lawsuit, five men have claimed that McMahon failed to protect them from exploitation and sexual abuse during their time as underage "ring boys." Filed anonymously in a Maryland court, the complaint alleges that the McMahons were aware of the abuse but took no action to prevent it. Additionally, the lawsuit mentions Melvin Phillips Jr., a former WWE ring crew chief, who was reportedly involved in the abuse but passed away in 2012.
The plaintiffs allege they were coerced into working with the ring crew in preparation for shows and were subsequently groomed and abused. According to attorney Mark DiCello, “The WWE and McMahons had a responsibility to these underaged boys, and they failed them in the worst way possible.”
The lawsuit accuses McMahon and Linda of negligence for allowing what it describes as "systematic and widespread abuse" of children who were as young as 12 years old. It also references previous reports, including an FBI investigation in the early '90s that identified at least ten victims but resulted in no criminal charges.
Lawsuit's response
In response to the lawsuit, McMahon’s attorney, Jessica Rosenberg, called the allegations “false claims” and stated, “We will vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident the court will find that these claims are untrue and unfounded.”
This scandal has also been highlighted in the recent Netflix docu-series "Mr. McMahon," which explores the controversial aspects of McMahon's career and was released on September 25, 2024. The ongoing legal issues and their implications pose significant challenges for WWE and its leadership. Later McMahon himself took on X and called out the series calling it deceptive and false.
