Former WWE CEO Vince McMahon has publicly criticized an upcoming Netflix documentary series about his life, claiming that its depiction of him is "deceptive" and "misleading." In a statement posted on X on Monday, Sept. 23, McMahon, 79, expressed his disappointment with the producers' portrayal of his life, despite acknowledging that he doesn't regret participating in the series.
"I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary," McMahon began. "The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons."
However, McMahon took issue with the way his story was presented in the documentary. “Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the 'Mr. McMahon' character with my true self, Vince. The title and promos alone make that evident,” he stated.
McMahon further accused the producers of misrepresenting his story, claiming that "a lot" of it has been "misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused." He criticized the use of "typical editing tricks with out of context footage and dated soundbites" to "distort the viewers’ perception and support a deceptive narrative."
More Controversy around documentation
The WWE founder also took aim at the producers for using a lawsuit based on an affair he ended as evidence to support their portrayal of him as "Mr. McMahon." McMahon concluded his statement by expressing hope that viewers will keep an open mind when watching the series.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Netflix series addresses McMahon's career as well as the "dark side of the business," including his 90's steroid abuse scandal and allegations of sexual misconduct.
In January 2024, McMahon resigned as executive chairman of the WWE and UFC's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, following a lawsuit by a former employee who claimed sexual assault and trafficking. He had previously stepped down as chairman and CEO of the WWE in June 2022 amidst an investigation into allegations of paying a former employee $3 million to hide their affair.
The investigation closed in November 2022, and McMahon was reinstated as executive chairman of the board in January 2023. When the WWE and UFC merged in September to create TKO Group Holdings, McMahon was appointed executive chairman.
About Lawsuit
The former employee, Janel Grant, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut against McMahon, WWE executive John Laurinaitis, and the company. McMahon denied the allegations and stated his intention to vigorously defend himself.
"I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant's lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth. I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and look forward to clearing my name," McMahon said in a statement shared with PEOPLE at the time.
However, he decided to resign from his executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors due to the lawsuit and its potential impact on the company.
Mr. McMahon premiered on Netflix on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
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