The WWE Board of Directors is investigating a purported secret settlement WWE’s CEO himself, Vince McMahon, agreed to pay a woman he allegedly had an affair with.
According to the report by The Wall Street Journal, McMahon agreed to pay her $3 million if she refrained “from discussing her relationship with McMahon or making critical statements about the chief executive.”
The board has hired the New York law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP to lead the probe into the allegations.
Jerry McDevitt, McMahon’s legal council, told The Wall Street Journal that the WWE itself didn’t pay the woman any money and she never made any misconduct claims against McMahon.
The board’s overall investigation also includes another incident in which another woman brought misconduct claims against McMahon and John Laurinaitis, the current General Manager of Talent Relations.
Just a month ago another McMahon family member was in the headlines. Stephanie McMahon, Vince’s daughter and the chief brand officer of the WWE, announced that she was taking a leave of absence from the company.
As of tomorrow, I am taking a leave of absence from the majority of my responsibilities at WWE. WWE is a lifelong legacy for me and I look forward to returning to the company that I love after taking this time to focus on my family.
— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) May 19, 2022
Vince McMahon has been married to wife Linda McMahon since 1966.
McMahon is no stranger to controversy inside and outside the wrestling ring. In 1992 on Geraldo Rivera’s show Now It Can Be Told, former referee Rita Chatterton accused McMahon of raping her in his car. In 2006, he was accused of sexual harassment by a tanning bar employee but no charges were ever filed.
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