Vince McMahon And Wife Sued In New Horrific Abuse Case Involving Boys
Five men who worked as teenagers for World Wrestling Entertainment during the 1980s have filed a lawsuit against the organization’s founders and former executives, Vince and Linda McMahon. The complaint alleges that, while working for the McMahons, they were sexually abused by a former employee who was given “unfettered access” to them. The former ring boys maintain that they were all groomed to receive sexual abuse by their immediate superior, ring crew leader and ring announcer Mel Phillips.
The latest scandal to rock the world of professional wrestling has deep and disturbing roots. The ring boys hired by Vince McMahon were typically troubled or displaced young teens and boys whose jobs were to help set up and tear down the ring before and after each event. When complaints about Phillips’ inappropriate and criminal behavior came to light, he was eventually fired.
Other WWE Personalities Named
But Phillips was not the only one the plaintiffs allege abused them. Two former ring boys identified as Tom Cole and Chris Loss publicly revealed that, along with Phillips, WWE employees Terry Garvin and Pat Patterson had also committed sexual misconduct. What makes matters even worse is the assertion from another former ring boy who maintained that many of the wrestlers of that era were aware of Phillips’ “reputation for underage boys.”
McMahon may have fired Phillips for his actions against the ring boys, but the disgraced announcer soon found favor with his former boss. He was rehired under the condition that he not be in the presence of underage boys.
Vince McMahon Reportedly Looked The Other Way
While there have been several lawsuits revolving around these allegations in the past, the current suit marks the first time that Vince McMahon has been personally named. Some might feel this is well overdue, considering one incident revealed by former WWE star Bruno Sammartino during a 1992 interview with Penthouse Magazine. During that conversation, the former athlete alleged that Phillips had once been caught in the backseat of a car with an 11-year-old boy in the middle of performing a sexual act.
The alleged incident was reported to Vince McMahon, who did not act on the information. Several years later, Phillips was caught in another sexual act with a ring boy and only suspended.
After Phillips was eventually fired from the WWE for good, he withdrew from public life and lived in seclusion. A great deal of wrestling memorabilia he had in a storage unit was auctioned off online when he couldn’t make payments on the unit any longer. The once-popular announcer died without any recognition or fanfare in 2012.
Vince McMahon’s Other Scandals
Vince McMahon has faced other scrutiny and civil litigation aside from the ring boys debacle. Forced to resign from his post as CEO in 2022, the embattled former face of the WWE was under investigation for paying out more than $12 million in sexual misconduct settlements. One such payout was to former WWE referee Rita Chatterton, who McMahon paid “millions of dollars” to settle a claim that he had raped the woman in 1986.
Fast forward to 2024, where Vince McMahon was sued again, this time by a former WWE employee named Janel Grant. Grant alleged that McMahon and former WWE executive John Laurinaitis committed various counts of sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The WWE organization is currently under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Sources: Rolling Stone
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