With some of its top brass currently at the center of allegations of workplace misconduct, WWE announced Friday that there would be some major (temporary) changes involving the McMahon family.
Vince McMahon, the longtime CEO and chairman of WWE, will be stepping down temporarily from his position. His daughter, Stephanie McMahon, will serve as the company’s interim CEO and chairwoman in the meantime. Stephanie McMahon currently serves as the company’s chief brand officer.
This comes as WWE announced that it was conducting an “investigation into alleged misconduct” involving Vince McMahon as well WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis.
“Effective immediately, McMahon has voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation,” the company announced in a press release. “McMahon will retain his role and responsibilities related to WWE’s creative content during this period and remains committed to cooperating with the review underway.”
The investigation comes after the Wall Street Journal reported that the 76-year-old McMahon paid a $3 million settlement to a former WWE paralegal to keep an alleged affair under wraps. The Wall Street Journal reports that Laurinaitis was also accused of misconduct.
The Journal reported that an annonymous email to the WWE board alleges that a woman was hired at $100,000, but had her salary increased to $200,000 after engaging in a sexual relationship with McMahan. The email also claims that McMahon “gave her like a toy” to Laurinaitis, according to the Wall Street Journal.
“I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation. I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are,” said McMahon said in the company press release.