According to a new report by The Wall Street Journal, Vince McMahon agreed to pay more than $12 million over the past 16 years to quash allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity.
The payouts were made to four women that were formerly associated with WWE. The women signed agreements with 76-year-old McMahon to prohibit them from disclosing their claims against or their relationships with him. The Wall Street Journal states they were able to review documents confirming this and spoke with people close to the situation.
One of the unreported settlements included a $7.5 million agreement with a former wrestler who alleged that she was forced to give McMahon oral sex before he demoted her. McMahon would ultimately decline to renew her contract in 2005 after she resisted further sexual advances from the WWE Chairman and CEO. In 2018, the wrestler and her attorney negotiated the payment in return for her silence.
Another previously unreported deal is from 2008. A WWE contractor presented the company with unsolicited nude photos sent to her by McMahon. She also alleged that he sexually harassed her on the job. The nondisclosure agreement reportedly cost McMahon about $1 million.
In a 2006 settlement, a former manager that had worked 10 years with McMahon before he allegedly initiated a sexual relationship with her was paid $1 million for her silence.
On June 17, WWE announced that Vince McMahon would voluntarily step aside from his duties as Chairman and CEO while the board investigated misconduct allegations. The initial allegation was that McMahon agreed to pay a secret $3 million settlement to a former paralegal with whom he had an affair.
In the interim, Stephanie McMahon stepped into her father’s role as Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of WWE. Mr. McMahon currently retains his duties on WWE Creative.
WWE’s board is investigating Mr. McMahon’s agreement with the paralegal, and the 2018 deal with the former wrestler.
The WWE’s board is also investigating John Laurinaitis, who is currently on administrative lead. Laurinaitis is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with the same paralegal. The board is also looking into a $1.5 million nondisclosure agreement reached in 2012 with an employee involving misconduct claims against Laurinaitis.
It is unclear if the WWE Board of Directors is also looking into the nondisclosure agreements with the former WWE contractor and the former manager. It is also unclear how much further the investigation will go back.
We will continue to follow this story as more becomes available.