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Just days after Vince McMahon stepped down as Executive Chairman of WWE’s parent company TKO, former WWE stars Nikki and Brie Bella responded.
McMahon, 78, was named in a lawsuit by former WWE employee Janel Grant, which accuses him of sex trafficking.
She claims he trafficked her to other WWE employees for sexual acts, one of whom was John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler and Nikki and Brie’s stepfather.
Now the 40-year-old twin sisters – who debuted in the WWE in 2007 and remained wih the company in various capacities since March 2023 – are speaking out.
Both Nikki and Brie – who now go by The Garcia Twins – responded to the lawsuit in a joint statement.
Just days after Vince McMahon stepped down as Executive Chairman of WWE ‘s parent company TKO, former WWE stars Nikki and Brie Bella responded
McMahon, 78, was named in a lawsuit by former WWE employee Janel Grant, which accuses him of sex trafficking
She claims he trafficked her to other WWE employees for sexual acts, one of whom was John Laurinaitis, a former wrestler and Nikki and Brie’s stepfather
‘We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE,’ the twins began.
‘It has been a lot to process this past week just as you all did. This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are,’ they added.
‘We want all women to feel safe and supported in the workplace and in their everyday lives,’ the statement concluded.
McMahon maintained his innocence in a statement to Daily Mail earlier this week, though he still announced his resignation from the Executive Chairman post.
‘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,’ he said.
‘I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name,’ he added.
‘However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately,’ he continued.
Grant had previously agreed to a $3 million settlement in 2022, which included her signing a non-disclosure agreement.
‘It has been a lot to process this past week just as you all did. This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are,’ they added
‘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,’ he said
However, she claims that McMahon stopped paying on the settlement after an initial $1 million payment, and she seeks to void that agreement with this lawsuit.
Grant claims she suffered bruising and bleeding after McMahon forcefully penetrated her with sex toys, which he named after his wrestlers.
She also alleges that McMahon and another WWE executive locked her in a room at the WWE’s Stamford, Connecticut headquarters in June of 2021 and took turns sexually assaulting her during the work day.
The married McMahon is additionally accused of trafficking Grant to other men and sharing nude photographs of the plaintiff. Grant is seeking unspecified damages.
The WWE previously described McMahon’s sexual relationship with Grant as ‘consensual’ in a 2022 statement.
The WWE board learned of McMahon’s relationship with Grant from an anonymous tip in 2022 and launched an internal investigation, which subsequently uncovered $14.6m in other alleged payments by the executive to various women.
Grant’s filing alleges that McMahon ensnared her in a sexual relationship by promising to help advance her career before ultimately exploiting her and trafficking her to other executives within the company.
WWE executive and retired wrestler John Laurinaitis is also named as a defendant in the suit. Laurinaitis was fired from the WWE in 2022.
Grant claims that McMahon directed her to regularly visit Laurinaitis at a hotel, where the two had daily sexual encounters prior to reporting to the office.
Grant claims she suffered bruising and bleeding after McMahon forcefully penetrated her with sex toys, which he named after his wrestlers
John is the uncle of former NFL linebacker James Laurinaitis. His brothers Joe and Marcus also wrestled in the WWE
‘I’ve left that hotel feeling bad about myself every time,’ Grant claims she told McMahon.
John is the uncle of former NFL linebacker James Laurinaitis. His brothers Joe and Marcus also wrestled in the WWE.
In one alleged sexual encounter in May of 2020, Grant claims McMahon defecated on her head during a threesome before commanding her to continue pleasuring his ”friend.”
‘Upon his return from the bathroom, McMahon and his ”friend” actively resumed the threesome, which lasted over an hour and a half, while Ms. Grant remained covered in McMahon’s filth,’ the filing continued. ‘When McMahon’s ”friend” left, McMahon ordered her to stay and to continue to sexually gratify him.’
Laurinaitis married Kathy Colace in 2016, the mother of Nikki and Brie Bella.
The siblings made their debuts as pro wrestlers dubbed The Bella Twins in a WWE developmental deal in 2007, making their full WWE debuts in 2008.
Nikki retired from the ring in 2019 after a cyst was found on her brain while Brie wrestled regularly through 2016 with sporadic appearances throughout the years including the 2022 Royal Rumble.
