In a recent interview with POST Wrestling and Wrestlenomics, former judge and attorney Ann Callis voiced concerns regarding the release of a love letter penned by her client, Janel Grant, directed to Vince McMahon, alleging it was a tactic to intimidate Grant.
“It was a tactic to intimidate Janel and victim-shame her,” Callis remarked.
The letter, made public in a report by The New York Post, is a focal point in Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, filed in a Connecticut federal court in January, alleging sex trafficking.
The lawsuit contains explicit accusations of sexual assault, asserting that high-ranking executives facilitated an abusive relationship between Grant and McMahon, where she was allegedly trafficked to Laurinaitis.
Additionally, it alleges a sexual encounter with Grant was leveraged during negotiations for Brock Lesnar’s talent contract renewal.
McMahon’s legal representation contends that the letter indicates a consensual relationship with Grant.
The letter references several individuals, identified by their first names only, who allegedly spent time with Grant and McMahon during their time together.
“Whether it’s your assistants, a chef, Brad, Nick, Johnny, or whoever sees us together, I think it’s undeniable to them,” Grant wrote to McMahon in the December 2021 letter.
Callis suggests that the mentioned “Nick” and “Brad” likely allude to current WWE President Nick Khan and Chief Operating Officer Brad Blum, identified in Grant’s lawsuit as “WWE Corporate Officer No. 1” and “WWE Corporate Officer No. 2,” respectively.
Last month, WWE denied any prior knowledge of abuse allegations involving Grant by Khan or Blum before the lawsuit was filed.
The letter also mentions other individuals aware of the relationship.
“Even though so few people know about us,” Grant wrote, “the most freeing feeling this year came when we got to act like a couple — openly, freely — when Mickey, Paul, and the Chef were around us.”
Callis clarified that “Paul” refers to Paul Mangieri, an executive assistant at WWE. Mickey Mangieri, another assistant to McMahon, is also mentioned.
Speculation arose regarding whether “Paul” referred to WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, which Callis dismissed.
However, she declined to comment on whether Levesque was aware of Grant and McMahon’s relationship before the WWE Board of Directors was informed in March 2022.
Callis highlighted the coercive nature of such love letters, a pattern observed in other high-profile sex trafficking cases, including those involving Jeffrey Epstein, R. Kelly, and Keith Raniere.
Grant’s letter indicates it was the 24th draft, which McMahon’s attorney, Jessica Taub Rosenberg, argues suggests it was not coerced.
However, Callis asserts the number of drafts doesn’t negate the coercion, alleging McMahon’s control over Grant led to multiple revisions out of fear of repercussions.
Rosenberg denies McMahon coerced Grant into writing the letter, insisting it was written voluntarily and undermines the lawsuit’s claims.
Rosenberg anticipates further evidence supporting McMahon’s case will emerge.
Edward M. Brennan, Laurinaitis’s attorney, maintains his client’s innocence, alleging Laurinaitis was also under McMahon’s control.
Callis reiterated Grant’s ongoing trauma from the alleged events outlined in the lawsuit, which she claims led to Grant’s termination from her subsequent job due to PTSD symptoms.
Regarding Grant’s availability for interviews during the WWE Board of Directors’ investigation, Callis asserts Grant was not contacted despite claims suggesting otherwise.
Representatives from WWE and TKO did not respond to requests for comment.
Callis confirmed all defendants have been served summons, with responses due by mid-May.
