Vince McMahon is stepping down from his position as executive chairman of WWE-parent TKO Group Holdings amid the sexual abuse scandal that has rocked the wrestling world.
According to Deadline, McMahon denied the allegations but is nonetheless resigning from his post.
“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,” McMahon said Friday, per the outlet. “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, effectively immediately.”
McMahon was hit with a bombshell lawsuit Thursday by ex-staffer Janel Grant — which include allegations that he defecated on her during a threesome, trafficked her to other WWE executives and sexually abused her with toys he named after wrestling stars.
“I wanted to inform you that Vince McMahon has tendered his resignation from his positions as TKO Executive Chairman and on the TKO Board of Directors,” WWE president and TKO board member Nick Khan said in an email to staff on Friday, according to Variety. “He will no longer have a role with TKO Group Holdings or WWE.”
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This story originally appeared on NYPost
