The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) board is investigating CEO Vince McMahon’s alleged secret $3 million settlement with an ex-employee that he had an affair with, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
The former employee reportedly signed an agreement in January prohibiting her from discussing her relationship with McMahon or disparaging him in any way. McMahon recruited the 41-year-old former employee for $100,000, and once the alleged sexual relationship began, he raised her income to $200,000, according to an email addressed to WWE board members on March 30.
The board’s investigation began in April, and they have since found other nondisclosure agreements related to misconduct claims against McMahon and John Laurinaitis, WWE’s head of talent relations.
According to the email sent to the board about the former employee, who worked as a paralegal in 2019, McMahon allegedly gave the woman to Laurinaitis “like a toy.”
“My friend was so scared, so she quit after Vince McMahon and lawyer Jerry paid her millions of dollars to shut up,” the email read.
Jerry McDevitt, McMahon’s attorney, is allegedly responsible for working out the financial agreement with the former employee.
However, McDevitt told The Wall Street Journal that the woman has not come forward with claims of harassment, and the “WWE did not pay any monies” to her.
The board is now investigating the email’s claims.
ESPN asked WWE for a comment on Wednesday, but the sports entertainment juggernaut did not provide an answer as of writing.
A WWE spokesman told the WSJ that the company is complying with the board’s investigation and that the paralegal’s connection with McMahon was consensual.
Meanwhile, the report said that the board hired the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett to conduct the investigation. The report also stated that other nondisclosure payments, aside from the payment made for the ex-employee, have reached millions of dollars.
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