Vince McMahon And WWE Hit By Another Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Another lawsuit has rocked Vince McMahon and WWE.

TRIGGER WARNING: The article discusses sex crimes against children.

A new lawsuit has been filed against Vince McMahon, Linda McMahon, WWE, and the TKO Group on behalf of a group of “ring boys” who were sexually abused while working for the company.

The survivors (John Does 1-5) were known within WWE as “Ring Boys,” and were hired by then ringside announcer and ring crew chief Melvin Phillips Jr. to run errands and complete other tasks in preparation for WWE events.

The suit claims that the boys were then “groomed, exploited, and sexually abused” by Phillips.

Back in 1992, Phillips and Terry Garvin were accused of having sexual relationships with children by former “ring boy” Tom Cole. Phillips was initially fired by McMahon, before returning with the company.

You can find an excerpt from the lawsuit below.

DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy File Lawsuit Against World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC, Vincent K. McMahon, Linda McMahon, and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. on Behalf of ‘Ring Boys’ Who Survived Sexual Abuse

Defendants Allegedly Allowed Open, Rampant Abuse of Underaged Boys Employed by the WWE

BALTIMORE, October 23, 2024—DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy filed a major lawsuit today against World Wrestling Entertainment, LLC (WWE), Vincent K. McMahon and Linda McMahon (the McMahons), and TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (TKO) on behalf of five survivors of sexual abuse. The survivors (John Does 1-5) were known within WWE as “Ring Boys,” underaged boys hired by the organization’s ringside announcer and ring crew chief Melvin Phillips Jr. to assist with errands and other tasks in preparation for WWE’s wrestling shows.

The underaged Ring Boys were groomed, exploited, and sexually abused by Phillips, who targeted children from broken homes. His sexual assaults occurred not only at the wrestling venues, but also in hotel rooms and other locations where Phillips would shuttle the boys in plain sight. Defendants were fully aware of the systemic and pervasive abuse and did nothing to prevent or stop it.

The FBI previously identified at least 10 Ring Boys abused by Phillips, but there are likely countless others who have suffered in silence for decades.

“Thanks to the bravery of our clients, we finally have a chance to hold accountable those who allowed and enabled the open, rampant sexual abuse of these young boys,” said Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt, who is leading the litigation. “That so many were aware of the sexual abuse of the Ring Boys and did nothing to prevent or stop it is simply unconscionable.”

The survivors only recently learned of the depth of knowledge that the McMahons and the WWE had about what happened to them and that sexual abuse in the company started at the top with the McMahons. The filing of Grant v. WWE, et al., No. 24-cv-90 (D. Conn.), the acquisition of the WWE by TKO, and the ouster of Vince McMahon as CEO all have provided new insights, and the possibility of coming forward without incurring the retribution and intimidation of the McMahons. This information, along with recent changes in sex abuse laws, has allowed them to pursue justice in this suit.

“The WWE and McMahons had a responsibility to these underaged boys, and they failed them in the worst way possible. We will vigorously fight to uncover the truth about this systemic, insidious, and life-altering abuse,” said Mark DiCello, founding partner of DiCello Levitt. “We commend our clients for their bravery in coming forward and promise to relentlessly seek justice for them.”

“These survivors are profiles in courage. One third of child sex abuse victims never come forward, because the shame, humiliation, trauma, and physical and psychological injuries silence them,” said Professor Marci Hamilton, founder and CEO of CHILD USA, a leading nonprofit think tank fighting to preserve and strengthen children’s rights.

“Sadly, we know that 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 13 boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. CHILD USA is fighting child sex abuse and trafficking, and one of the greatest tools in our arsenal is to push for statute of limitations reform so perpetrators and their enabling institutions can be held accountable in cases of delayed disclosure. Due to the Maryland window we fought for, these brave survivors can seek justice.”

The case was filed in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, MD by DiCello Levitt’s Greg Gutzler, Mark DiCello, Bobby DiCello, Adam Prom, and Emma Bruder and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy’s William H. “Billy” Murphy, Jr. A copy of the complaint is available here.

DiCello Levitt is protecting children, women, and men in cases of sexual abuse, discrimination, and exploitation. The firm is lead counsel in Does v. Peter Nygard, a civil suit spanning six countries and 50 years of abuse. In the cross-border matter, DiCello Levitt is fighting for more than 125 people abused by disgraced fashion mogul Peter Nygard.

Vince McMahon Accused Of Sexual Abuse And Sex Trafficking

In January 2024, Janel Grant filed a lawsuit against McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinaitis, alleging sex trafficking and sexual abuse. Shortly after the filing was made, McMahon stepped down from his role with the TKO Group, while Laurinaitis had already left WWE.

In the latest twist in the case, a new legal filing has been made against the doctors mentioned in the lawsuit filed against Vince McMahon which accuses one named doctor of medicating Grant with an unknown substance and an unnamed physical therapist of joining McMahon in sexual abuse.

Grant’s lawsuit is currently on hold after the United States government launched its own investigation into McMahon.