After stepping down from his corporate duties at World Wrestling Entertainment last month in the wake of an ongoing investigation into an allegation that he paid a woman $3 million in hush money after an affair, Vince McMahon is now accused of paying out so much more. According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, McMahon has shelled out over $12 million in the last 16 years to four different women over sexual misconduct claims.
The previously unreported settlements include a $7.5 million with a former wrestler who alleged that McMahon coerced her into giving him oral sex, then demoted her and didn’t renew her contract in 2005. This was after she turned down McMahon on future advancements.
Now concerning former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis, the board is investigating where he had a sexual relationship with the same former paralegal. It is also looking at a reportedly $1.5 million nondisclosure agreement reached in 2012 with an employee involving misconduct claims against him.
A company spokesperson said that WWE is cooperating with the investigation and are taking the accusations very seriously.
Despite that statement, McMahon has not stepped away from the spotlight and has actually made appearances on both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown, opening the show by saying how the company is still all about “Then. Now. Forever. Together.” He put some emphasis on that together part, in one of his speeches. Fans were expecting him to say more and address the situation head-on but kept it short, likely due to the fact there wasn’t a lawyer present.
Source: Gamespot
