Former WWE ‘ring boys’ file sexual abuse lawsuit against Vince McMahon and WWE

Disclaimer: This article includes explicit details of sexual abuse that may be distressing for some readers.

Amid Vince McMahon’s federal investigation for Janel Grant’s lawsuit, a new lawsuit has put the former WWE boss under scrutiny as “ring boys” have alleged McMahon and WWE of a new scandal. Five former WWE "ring boys" have filed a lawsuit against the company, its founder Vince McMahon, his wife Linda McMahon, and TKO Group Holdings.

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The new lawsuit accuses McMahon and his wife alongside TKO Holdings of negligence for permitting what is described as the "systemic and widespread abuse" of underage children. The lawsuit, brought forward by law firms DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, on behalf of five anonymous plaintiffs, accuses former WWE employees Mel Phillips and Terry Garvin of sexually abusing young “ring boys” who were hired to run errands. It further alleges that both Vince and Linda McMahon were aware of the abuse but took no action to intervene or stop it.

The lawsuit states that Phillips, who died in 2012 had the “real motivation in luring the ring boys with the promise of gaining access to the popular WWE events was to sexually abuse them. And Vince McMahon knew it, admitting that he was aware, at least as early as the 1980s, that Phillips had a 'peculiar and unnatural interest' in young boys."

Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt, the firm that filed the lawsuit, and the attorney leading the litigation has commented on the lawsuit saying, “Thanks to the bravery of our clients, we finally have a chance to hold accountable those who allowed and enabled the open, rampant sexual abuse of these young boys. That so many were aware of the sexual abuse of the ring boys and did nothing to prevent or stop it is simply unconscionable.”

Following the lawsuit, McMahon’s attorney Jessica Rosenberg has responded to the allegation against the former WWE Chairman. “More than 30 years ago, the columnist Phil Mushnick tried to make headlines with these same false claims. Those allegations were never proven and ultimately became the subject of a defamation lawsuit against Mr. Mushnick,” Rosenberg said.

The attorney went on to add, “The negligence claims against Mr. McMahon that were asserted today rely on these same absurd, defamatory and utterly meritless statements by Mr. Mushnick. We will vigorously defend Mr. McMahon and are confident the court will find that these claims are untrue and unfounded.”

McMahon has also been under federal investigation as a former WWE employee Janel Grant has accused him of involvement in sex trafficking and sexual abuse.

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