Former WWE employee Janel Grant has disputed any involvement in anonymous emails that were sent in 2022 that led to a formal investigation being launched.
In 2022, WWE’s Board of Directors launched an investigation into the misconduct of then-Chairman Vince McMahon after multiple emails were sent anonymously. The emails claim that a former WWE employee was homeless and “on percs” before getting cleaned up and meeting Vince McMahon. The emails then detail allegations of misconduct involving McMahon and former Head of Talent Relations, John Laurinaitis.
The first email sent on March 30, just a few days before that year’s WrestleMania, reads as follows:
“To Whom it May Concern,
“My friend worked at WWE. She is [REDACTED] and we live homeless for a while on percs etc. Etc. We went to get cleaned up together and she met chief chairman Vince McMahon not too long after that. Vince McMahon gave her a job and paid her one hundred thousand dollars every year until he started fucking her then he paid her two hundred thousand dollar a year he is 80 years old and took my friends soul just because he could. Vince McMahon gave her like a toy his friend John who works at WWE to John is 70 and her boss to. My friend was so scared so she quit after Vince McMahon and lawyer Jerry paid her millions of dollars to shut up I am going to the media as well I don’t want anything from from I just want the world to know the truth about this pervert.”
Along with multiple spelling and grammatical errors, the first email lists McMahon and Laurinaitis’ ages incorrectly. McMahon was 76 at this time, and Laurinaitis was 59.
The second email was sent on April 11 of that year, once again containing spelling errors:
“The board of directors for major company like wwe does not care that the old founder and his old sidekick johnny Laronitis took advantage of a [REDACTED] who only worked hard? She would be angry that I wrote this but I want no money. I am sending this out to your stock holders tomorrow and to all lawyers my friend worked with. The lawyers knows of the settlements investigate and you will see WWE paid for her silence. [REDCATED] is her name. Very good lady. Treated like an animal by Vince Mcmahon and Johnny Loronitis.”
The third email, sent on April 14, 2022, references a “25 year old employee.” Grant was 41 at this time:
“Deadspin is surprised that board of directors has not checked vince mcmahon s phone which will show all of his hurtful pictures back and forth to [REDACTED] these include pictures of his privates to a 25 year old employee and them in sex together and with Johnny in sex acts with her. Gross old men abusing a 25 year old.”
Janel Grant Responds To Emails
In a post on social media, Grant denied any involvement in the emails. Stating that it felt like a “sledgehammer to her mental health”, Grant noted that she felt like a Taylor Swift lyric:
“Reading these for the first time took a sledgehammer to my mental health,” Grant wrote. “I feel like a Taylor Swift lyric and wonder if someone caged me just to call me crazy.”
Grant also said the following regarding the emails:
“What never happened: No living on the street. No addictions to ‘percs.’ No rehab. The spin: A friend? I see a trick to steer public perception. Homeless? I shared my background at work. Rehab? I shared my experience with grief counseling at work. Addiction? I shared that quitting nicotine lozenges wasn’t fun at work.”
I’m pretty sick over whether this is implying a revenge porn situation and whether it extends to Deadspin. I’m sick over whether this is implying I was being filmed and didn’t know it. I’m sick over whatever it is that I don’t know.”
Janel Grant filed a lawsuit in January 2024, accusing Vince McMahon and John Lauriantis of sexual assault and trafficking. WWE is also a defendant in this case. The allegations led to McMahon resigning the next day.
The lawsuit remains ongoing, but Laurinaitis has been dropped as a defendant in exchange of providing evidence.
In February 2026, Grant spoke publicly for the first time since the lawsuit was filed.
