{"id":2359037,"date":"2024-10-24T13:44:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-24T17:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vince-mcmahon-and-wwe-accused-of-allowing-sexual-abuse-of-ring-boys-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-24T13:45:05","modified_gmt":"2024-10-24T17:45:05","slug":"vince-mcmahon-and-wwe-accused-of-allowing-sexual-abuse-of-ring-boys-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vince-mcmahon-and-wwe-accused-of-allowing-sexual-abuse-of-ring-boys-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Vince McMahon and WWE accused of allowing sexual abuse of Ring Boys &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvince-mcmahon-and-wwe-accused-of-allowing-sexual-abuse-of-ring-boys-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2359037&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A lawsuit filed in \u200bBaltimore County accuses Vince McMahon, his wife Linda McMahon, and WWE of \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/major-companies-remove-advertisements-from-twitter-over-child-pornography-allegations\/\" title=\"Major Companies Remove Advertisements From Twitter Over Child Pornography Allegations\">allowing sexual abuse<\/a> of young \u2062boys, referred to as &#8220;Ring Boys,&#8221; by a ringside announcer and crew \u200dchief named Melvin Phillips \u2063Jr.\u2063 The plaintiffs, \u200bfive former Ring Boys, claim that Phillips\u2064 targeted underaged boys, some as young as \u200d12,\u200d who were often from broken \u2062homes, grooming and sexually abusing them during WWE events\u200c since the 1980s. Despite accusations against him, \u2062Phillips \u2063was briefly fired in \u200c1988\u200d but was rehired shortly \u2062after with the condition to avoid children, which the lawsuit claims he violated. The abuse allegedly occurred in various settings, including\u200b Phillips&#8217;s dressing room, where incidents were recorded. The lawsuit highlights a history\u200b of negligence by WWE and \u200dthe McMahons, emphasizing their responsibility to protect these vulnerable \u200cyouths. The allegations resurfaced decades\u2064 later,\u2062 reigniting interest in previously conducted but\u200b unresolved investigations into such abuses.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Vince McMahon and WWE accused of allowing sexual abuse of Ring Boys<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Five former Ring Boys have accused Vince McMahon, his wife Linda McMahon, and the WWE of knowing about and failing to stop a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">ringside announcer\/ring crew chief<\/a> from sexually exploiting them, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/dicellolevitt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Date-Stamped-Does-1-5-v.-WWE-et-al.-Complaint-10.23.2024.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>lawsuit<\/a> filed Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In this May 21, 2010, file photo, Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon, right, and husband Vince McMahon, left, wait for delegate votes to be tallied during the Connecticut Republican Convention in Hartford, Connecticut. (AP Photo\/Jessica Hill, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The suit, filed in Baltimore County, alleges that the ring crew chief, Melvin Phillips Jr., would hire underaged boys, sometimes as young as 12 years old, to help set up WWE events where they were &ldquo;groomed, exploited, and sexually abused,&rdquo; with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/actor-cuba-gooding-jr-pleads-guilty-to-forcible-touching-following-multiple-allegations\/\" title=\"Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Pleads Guilty To Forcible Touching Following Multiple Allegations\">allegations dating back<\/a> to the 1980s. Philips died in 2012 and can not be listed as a defendant.<\/p>\n<p>WWE co-founder Vince McMahon and his wife, as well as the WWE and its parent company, TKO Holdings, were listed as defendants and are accused of allowing &ldquo;open, rampant abuse&rdquo; toward the boys, whom Philips would source from broken homes.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The WWE and McMahons had a responsibility to these underaged boys, and they failed them in the worst way possible,&rdquo; Mark DiCello, the plaintiffs&rsquo; representative, said in a statement. &ldquo;We will vigorously fight to uncover the truth about this systemic, insidious, and life-altering abuse.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The suit alleges that after accusations were made against Phillips, Vince McMahon fired him in 1988 only to rehire him six weeks later under the condition that he &ldquo;steer away from kids.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He did not, and they knew it,&rdquo; the suit finalizes.<\/p>\n<p>Allegedly, Phillips &ldquo;lured and manipulated the young boys with promises of meeting famous wrestlers and attending the highly popular wrestling shows, experiences that were otherwise unattainable for these kids.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>The abuse would happen at wrestling events, hotels, and other venues, including Phillips&rsquo;s dressing room, where he would abuse victims while filming the assault with a video camera.<\/p>\n<p>The scandal was originally broken by the&nbsp;<em>Miami Herald<\/em>&lsquo;s Alex Marvez&nbsp;in 1992, leading the FBI to investigate claims of sexual abuse toward minors. No criminal charges were filed despite the FBI identifying at least 10 victims, the lawsuit states.<\/p>\n<p>Two of the claimants are from Pennsylvania, two are from Massachusetts, and one is from Florida. They are referred to as John Does in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>The John Does only recently learned of the extent of Vince McMahon&rsquo;s alleged involvement in the crimes after learning about a <a href=\"https:\/\/s.wsj.net\/public\/resources\/documents\/WWE_complaint.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>lawsuit<\/a> from former WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused Vince McMahon and former WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis of sexually assaulting her, sex trafficking her, and forcing her into a sexual relationship with a wrestler the WWE was trying to sign.<\/p>\n<p>Ann Callis, one of Grant&rsquo;s attorneys, called Wednesday&rsquo;s allegations &ldquo;deeply troubling.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Vince McMahon made sexual abuse and human trafficking a hallmark of WWE&rsquo;s culture for decades,&rdquo; Callis said in a statement. &ldquo;Survivors like Janel Grant and other former WWE employees deserve their day in court.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vince McMahon <a href=\"https:\/\/frontofficesports.com\/vince-mcmahon-accused-of-sex-trafficking-in-new-lawsuit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>resigned<\/a> from his TKO Group executive chairman position and gave up his spot on the executive board in January amid allegations from four women, including Grant and her lawsuit, that he paid them millions of dollars to conceal his sexual misconduct.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant&rsquo;s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,&rdquo; McMahon said, disputing Grant&rsquo;s allegations.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Greg Gutzler, the leader of Wednesday&rsquo;s litigation, said it was &ldquo;simply unconscionable&rdquo; that so many did nothing to stop the abuse despite allegedly knowing about it. <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Thanks to the bravery of our clients, we finally have a chance to hold accountable those who allowed and enabled the open, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/u-n-fighting-its-own-mounting-sexual-abuse-cases-with-mandatory-trainings\/\" title=\"U.N. Fighting Its Own Mounting Sexual Abuse Cases with &#039;Mandatory Trainings&#039;\">rampant sexual abuse<\/a> of these young boys,&rdquo; he said.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Vince McMahon and WWE face lawsuit over Ring Boys&#8217; abuse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3427,"featured_media":2359038,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AP100521116408.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[5609,43651,35066,41963,10027],"class_list":["post-2359037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-allegations","tag-ring-boys","tag-sexual-abuse","tag-vince-mcmahon","tag-wwe"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AP100521116408.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3427"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2359037"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2359037\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2359038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2359037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2359037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2359037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}