Vince McMahon is dealing with one more lawsuit — this time, the previous WWE honcho is being accused of ignoring claims of sexual abuse made by former staff often known as “Ring Boys.”
The docs have been filed in Baltimore County Wednesday … with Vince’s spouse, Linda McMahon, WWE and its possession, TKO Group, additionally named within the lawsuit.
Within the go well with …. it alleges Melvin Phillips Jr. — who served because the ring crew chief and ringside announcer — employed underaged boys to help the crew with errands and duties for wrestling exhibits.
It claims the boys have been typically as younger as 12 and 13 years outdated … and Phillips’ actual motivation in hiring them “was to sexually abuse them” after promising entry to widespread WWE occasions.
The legislation agency representing the accusers says he focused kids from damaged houses … and these incidents occurred in wrestling venues, lodge rooms and “in plain sight.”
Phillips died in 2012.
Whereas he’s not accused of collaborating within the actions, the go well with states McMahon and the defendants knowingly allowed Phillips to take advantage of his place inside the firm to “groom and abuse Ring Boys” — which typically occurred in entrance of wrestlers and different firm executives.
“Due to the bravery of our purchasers, we lastly have an opportunity to carry accountable those that allowed and enabled the open, rampant sexual abuse of those younger boys,” Greg Gutzler, a associate at DiCello Levitt, mentioned in a press launch.
The agency says the FBI recognized at the very least 10 people assaulted by Phillips, however believes there are extra on the market who’ve remained silent.
“That so many have been conscious of the sexual abuse of the ring boys and did nothing to stop or cease it’s merely unconscionable.”
McMahon resigned from WWE in January 2024 following allegations made by former worker Janel Grant, who accused him and former exec. John Laurinaitis of sexual misconduct. He denied the allegations.
