This Wednesday, and The Wall Street Journal reported, that direction WWE It is investigating a “secret” $3 million settlement that Vince McMahon reportedly paid to an ex-employee he allegedly had an affair with.
The former employee is said to have left WWE in January of this year, having joined as legal counsel in 2019, but a “separation agreement” allegedly prevents her from talking about her relationship with the president.
WWE management launched an investigation in April with the services of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in New York.
Through this investigation, he has uncovered a few nondisclosure agreements of a similar nature that include complaints against Vince McMahon and current head of talent relations, John Laurinaitis.
Preliminary findings indicate that Vince McMahon used his personal money to pay the salaries of former employees who signed the agreements, rather than company money.
Neither Vince McMahon nor John Laurenitis responded immediately after they were asked to comment, but WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt said:
WWE “I didn’t pay any money” for the former employee “on your way out”.
A WWE spokesperson said the company is fully complying with the investigation and that the relationship with the former employee was consensual.
WWE board members are believed to have learned of the $3 million deal through a series of Email messages Anonymous messages sent by someone claiming to be a friend of the former employee.
the first E-mail, sent on March 30, alleged that Vince McMahon hired the woman for a salary of $100,000, but increased her to $200,000 after they began a sexual relationship, and then “gave her as a toy” to John Lorenitz. a E-mail He said:
My friend was so scared that she quit after Vince McMahon and attorney Jerry [McDevitt] I paid her millions of dollars to shut up.
The $3 million non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is believed to have been a down payment of $1 million, with another $2 million to be paid over 5 years.
WWE has yet to publicly comment on this matter, but has sent the following message to all contributors:
The Wall Street Journal has published a report on WWE with claims that we and our board of directors take them very seriously.
What do you think of this whole situation with Vince McMahon?
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