Janel Grant’s representatives have called on WWE to relinquish employee non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to their ongoing lawsuit against the company and its head, Vince McMahon.
Grant has filed the lawsuit against the WWE, McMahon, and John Laurinaitis, accusing them of sexual assault and trafficking. To bolster their case, Grant’s legal team has asked WWE to nullify NDAs tied to the lawsuit.
In a recent conversation with “POST Wrestling”, Grant’s spokesperson, Kendra Barkoff Lamy, outlined the motivation behind this request, among other topics.
Highlights from their conversation include:
About feedback from ex-WWE employees:
“Janel’s legal team has been contacted by former WWE employees sharing their own experiences from their time at WWE. We had heard as recently as a few days ago about the unhealthy working environment their previously endured at WWE. We are asking WWE to prove that they have rectified this issue by allowing both the men and women to speak truthfully about their experiences, without the fear of NDA restrictions.”
On recommendations for WWE to enhance its work environment:
“We saw the Vince McMahon documentary and it showed that he was a significant issue within WWE. A lot of his former proteges, some of whom were around when Ms. Grant underwent her ordeal, continue to work there. Fully understanding the scope of the problem is the first step towards instituting cultural change.”
On whether the Mr. McMahon docuseries has elevated awareness about the problem:
“We’re gratified that Ms. Grant’s case was included in the series. It’s an important addition, because it elucidates the true nature of Vince McMahon. It has generated a lot of interest and made more people aware of what Ms. Grant went through. The series has a broad viewer base, and that’s beneficial for increased knowledge and awareness about her experience.”
About whether Vince McMahon himself would have to agree to waive the NDAs:
“The letter we sent demands that WWE and Vince McMahon both approve the waiving of the NDAs. However, it’s unclear who signed each specific NDA or when.”
On the accountability of executives for ensuring employee safety:
“As per the lawsuit, both Vince McMahon and WWE are being accused. As an organization and a company, your responsibility is to safeguard your employees. If these executives were aware of the abuse and did nothing to stop it, they can be implicated and held responsible. Numerous employees from that time are still working within the organization today.”
About whether WWE could do anything that might exclude them from the lawsuit:
“If the company wants to put this issue behind them, they need to let the women, as well as the rest of the former employees, speak openly. At present, the lawsuit is on hold as the federal government investigates Vince McMahon. In the interim, it’s crucial for WWE to be transparent and let their employees speak freely.”
On the copy of the letter being sent to TKO’s Ari Emanuel:
“Ari Emanuel and Endeavor could set a precedence by allowing WWE employees to openly share their workplace experiences, disregarding the existing laws in Connecticut. Endeavor, as the owner of WWE, needs to back up its words with actions.”
On WWE’s eagerness to close the chapter on this issue:
“They’re likely unenthusiastic about this development, and the alert from the media. There are better ways to handle this: they could commit to transparent actions or at least review the letter. We will continue to push forward and persevere, just as Ms. Grant did when she first revealed her experiences.”