WWE's head Vince McMahon agreed to pay more than $12 million over the past 16 years to suppress allegations of sexual misconduct and infidelity, an amount far larger than previously known.
As noted, previously reported, In April 2022, the WWE board began investigating a $3 million hush-money settlement that McMahon paid over an alleged affair with a former employee of the company. The investigation also revealed other nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct claims by other women in the company against McMahon and executive John Laurinaitis.
Following the allegations, McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of WWE while the investigation is ongoing but will continue to oversee content development.
According to the latest from
wsj.com, Vince McMahon paid $12 million to four women to suppress sexual misconduct allegations and infidelity. The payout went to four women who were formerly affiliated with WWE, WWE—0.28% who signed agreements with Mr. McMahon that bar them from discussing potential legal claims against the 76-year-old executive or their relationship, the Wall Street Journal.
Previously unreported settlements include a $7.5 million settlement with a former wrestler who alleged that Mr McMahon forced her to give oral sex and then demoted her and, eventually, from renewing her contract in 2005. When refused, she objected to further sexual encounters. The wrestler and her attorney approached Mr. McMahon in 2018 and negotiated the payment in return for her silence, the people said.
In another previously unrestricted deal, a WWE contractor submitted unsolicited nude photos of Mr. McMahon to the company that he reported to have received from her and alleged that He sexually assaulted her at work. These people said, Mr. McMahon agreed to pay her about $1 million.
And in a 2006 agreement, a former manager who had worked 10 years for Mr. McMahon before he allegedly initiated a sexual relationship with her was paid $1 million to keep quiet about it, according to people familiar with the deal.
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