Vince McMahon And Wife Sued In New Allegation Of Horrific Abuse Involving Boys

Posted by Brian Myers | Published 27 seconds ago

Five men who worked as teenagers at World Wrestling Entertainment in the 1980s have filed a lawsuit against the organization's founders and former managers, Vince and Linda McMahon. The complaint alleges that, while working for the McMahons, they were sexually harassed by a former employee who was given “unfettered access” to them. The former boys insist they were all trained to be sexually assaulted by their immediate superior, ringleader and ring announcer Mel Phillips.

The latest scandal to rock the professional wrestling world has deep and disturbing roots. The ring boys employed by Vince McMahon often got into trouble or were fired by the teenagers and boys whose jobs it was to help set up and tear down the ring before and after each event. When complaints surfaced about Phillips' inappropriate and criminal behavior, he was eventually fired.

Other Named WWE Personalities

But Phillips wasn't the only one the plaintiffs said harassed them. Two former ring boys identified as Tom Cole and Chris Loss publicly revealed that, along with Phillips, WWE employees Terry Garvin and Pat Patterson also engaged in sexual misconduct. Making matters worse is the assertion of a former ring boy who asserted that many of the wrestlers of the time knew of Phillips' “little boy reputation.”

McMahon may have fired Phillips for his actions against the ring boys, but the disgraced announcer quickly found favor with his former boss. He was rehired on the condition that he not be in front of the younger boys.

It is reported that Vince McMahon looked the other way

While there have been several lawsuits related to these allegations in the past, the current lawsuit marks the first time that Vince McMahon has been named personally. Some may feel that this is too late, considering one incident that former WWE star Bruno Sammartino revealed during a 1992 interview with Penthouse Magazine. During that conversation, the former athlete alleged that Phillips was once caught in the backseat of a car with an 11-year-old boy in the middle of a sexual act.

The alleged incident was reported by Vince McMahon, he did not respond to this information. A few years later, Phillips was caught in another sex act with a ring boy and was only suspended.

After Phillips was finally fired from WWE for good, he withdrew from public life and remained private. Most of the combat memorabilia he had in storage was sold online when he could no longer pay for the unit. The once famous announcer died without recognition or popularity in 2012.

Some Vince McMahon Scandals

Vince McMahon has faced other scrutiny and civil lawsuits outside of the ring boy feud. Forced to step down as CEO in 2022, the former WWE face was under investigation for paying more than $12 million in a sexual misconduct settlement. One such payment was to former WWE referee Rita Chatterton, who McMahon paid “millions of dollars” to settle a claim that he raped the woman in 1986.

Fast forward to 2024, where Vince McMahon is being sued again, this time by a former WWE employee named Janel Grant. Grant alleges that McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis committed separate counts of sexual harassment and sex trafficking.

The WWE organization is currently under investigation by the US Department of Justice.

Sources: Rolling Stone