(NewsNation) — Vince McMahon, along with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), have been accused of failing to prevent the alleged sexual exploitation of boys by a ringside announcer.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Baltimore County, Maryland, alleges McMahon, his wife Linda McMahon and WWE ignored “rampant abuse” of so-called “ring boys.”
The boys, as young as 12 in some instances, were allegedly abused by ringside announcer Melvin Phillips Jr. in the 1980s and 1990s.
The alleged assaults — which were sexual in nature, according to the suit — occurred against five unidentified claimants and happened at wrestling events but also at hotels and other venues.
McMahon is facing multiple legal battles.
A former WWE employee filed a lawsuit against the company’s ex-leader, accusing him of sexual battery and trafficking.
Janel Grant, who worked in WWE’s legal and talent departments from 2019 to 2022, sued the company and McMahon in January, making graphic allegations of sexual assault, harassment, trafficking and other physical and emotional abuse.
McMahon stepped down as WWE’s CEO in 2022 amid a company investigation into allegations that match those in Grant’s lawsuit. He also resigned as executive chairman of the board of directors of TKO Group Holdings in January, a day after Grant filed her lawsuit.