Vince McMahon and WWE Face New Lawsuit Over ‘Ring Boy’ Scandal

As the WWE Universe, at least behind the scenes, continues to struggle with running a highly successful wrestling promotion while being investigated by the Department of Justice for sex trafficking and sexual assault, the promotion was the subject of another trial, this time for their management. minor “Ring Boys” in decades past.

Centered on the actions of Mel Phillips, a former ring announcer for the company, the suit was filed in Maryland on behalf of 10 unnamed former Ring Boys, with Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE and TKO all named in the suit .

Underage Ring Boys were groomed, exploited and sexually abused by Phillips, who targeted children from broken homes. His sexual assaults occurred not only at wrestling venues, but also in hotel rooms and other locations where Phillips transported the boys in plain sight. The defendants were fully aware of the systemic and pervasive abuse and did nothing to prevent or stop it. The FBI has already identified at least 10 Ring Boys abused by Phillips, but there are likely countless others who have suffered in silence for decades.

Survivors only recently learned the extent of the McMahons’ and WWE’s knowledge of what happened to them and that the sexual abuse in the company began at the top with the McMahons. The filing of Grant v. WWE, et al., No. 24-cv-90 (D. Conn.), TKO’s acquisition of WWE and the ouster of Vince McMahon as CEO all provided new information, and the possibility of come forward without facing reprisals and intimidation from the McMahons. This information, along with recent changes to sexual abuse laws, allowed them to obtain justice in this trial.

“WWE and the McMahons had a responsibility to these underage boys, and they failed them in the worst way possible. We will fight vigorously to uncover the truth about this systemic, insidious and life-changing abuse,” said Mark DiCello, founding partner of DiCello Levitt. “We commend our clients for their courage in coming forward and promise to relentlessly seek justice for them. »

“These survivors are courageous people. A third of victims of child sexual abuse never come forward, because shame, humiliation, trauma, and physical and psychological harm keep them silent,” said Professor Marci Hamilton, Founder and CEO of CHILD USA , a leading nonprofit think tank that fights to preserve and strengthen children’s rights. “Sadly, we know that one in five girls and one in 13 boys will be victims of sexual abuse before the age of 18. CHILD USA fights against child sexual abuse and trafficking, and one of the best tools in our arsenal is to push for statutory limitations to be reformed so that perpetrators and their enabling institutions can be held accountable. responsible in the event of late disclosure. Thanks to the Maryland window we fought for, these courageous survivors can seek justice.

Although the Janel Grant trial is currently on hold while the DOJ investigates McMahon and company, this particular trial does not have the same federal component, with very significant discovery potential if the McMahons, WWE and TKO fail to an agreement. outside court. In the meantime, this is just another major stain on the face of WWE, which constantly takes one step forward and two steps back in the court of public opinion. Given everything that’s happened with Pat Patterson and the Ring Boys in the past, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore that the WWE empire was built on many broken lives, and not only in the wrestling ring.