Former WWE chairman Vince McMahon has expressed his dissatisfaction with an upcoming Netflix documentary that delves into his rise and fall.
McMahon, 79, took to X on Monday, September 23, to share his thoughts ahead of the premiere of Netflix’s six-part docuseries Mr. McMahon on Wednesday, September 25.
In his statement, McMahon remarked, “I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary.
The producers had an opportunity to present an objective narrative about my life and the remarkable business I built, which was filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair share of controversy and life lessons.”
He continued, “Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this documentary falls short and takes the predictable route of blending the ‘Mr. McMahon’ character with my true self, Vince. The title and promotional material make this evident.”
McMahon criticized the documentary for allegedly misrepresenting and omitting significant details to deliberately confuse viewers.
He claimed, “The producers use typical editing techniques with out-of-context footage and outdated soundbites to distort viewers’ perceptions and support a misleading narrative.”
In his conclusion, McMahon addressed the use of a lawsuit related to an ended affair as evidence to portray him as the ‘Mr. McMahon’ character.
He urged viewers to maintain an open mind and remember that there are always two sides to every story.
Netflix describes Mr. McMahon as an “unflinching” exploration of McMahon’s life and career, tracing his journey from taking over WWE from his father, Vincent J. McMahon, to his departure from the company in January amid a lawsuit from a former WWE employee alleging “physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking.”
In response to McMahon’s statement, Ann Callis, the attorney for former WWE employee Janel Grant, issued a rebuttal.
Callis stated, “Vince McMahon physically and emotionally abused, sexually assaulted, and trafficked Janel Grant for more than two years.
Referring to his appalling and criminal behavior as ‘an affair’ is delusional and a desperate attempt to salvage his damaged reputation.”
Callis added that although Ms. Grant has not yet seen the Mr. McMahon docuseries, they hope it will accurately depict McMahon’s “abhorrent and criminal actions.”
The lawsuit, filed in January, claims McMahon displayed an “increasing lack of boundaries” starting in 2019, allegedly greeting Grant “in his underwear,” touching her, repeatedly asking for hugs, and sharing intimate details about his personal life.
Grant asserted that she entered into a physical relationship with McMahon due to fears of “negative consequences” if she refused and ultimately “succumbed to the pressure.”
The lawsuit also accuses McMahon of sharing sexually explicit photos of Grant with other WWE staff members, making “increasingly depraved sexual demands,” and coercing her into having sex with other staffers at WWE headquarters during work hours. WWE general manager John Laurinaitis is also named in the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for McMahon responded, “This lawsuit is filled with lies, fabricated instances, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”
Mr. McMahon is produced by Chris Smith, known for Tiger King, and Bill Simmons for Netflix.
The docuseries, initially announced in October 2020 with McMahon’s involvement, has evolved significantly due to various sexual misconduct allegations against him. McMahon has denied all accusations of wrongdoing.
Smith noted, “Over the four years of production, the story evolved in truly shocking ways, culminating in some extremely harrowing allegations.
The final product is a revealing documentary that we believe offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the man and the complex legacy he left behind.”
