Vince McMahon has resigned from TKO in the wake of a lawsuit that alleges he committed sexual assault and trafficking.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reports that WWE President Nick Khan sent a message to some staff in which he stated that Vince McMahon had tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors. Khan wrote that McMahon would no longer have a role with TKO Group Holds or WWE.
Dominic Patten of Deadline also reported the news, and Marc Raimondi of ESPN confirmed it.
Janel Grant filed a lawsuit on January 25 in which she alleged that Vince McMahon and John Laurinaitis sexually assaulted and trafficked her. A spokesperson for McMahon later said the lawsuit was replete with lies.
McMahon issued the following statement to Deadline:
“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” Vince McMahon said. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations, and look forward to clearing my name.
“However, out of respect for the WWE Universe, the extraordinary TKO business and its board members and shareholders, partners and constituents, and all of the employees and Superstars who helped make WWE into the global leader it is today, I have decided to resign from my executive chairmanship and the TKO board of directors, effective immediately.”