(NewsNation) — Dr. J. Martha Hart, the widow of late WWE star Owen Hart, says she was not surprised by the sex-trafficking allegations against former WWE CEO Vince McMahon.
“I was not surprised when I heard there was yet another lawsuit,” Hart said during a Thursday appearance on “Banfield.” “Over the years, the WWE has had many lawsuits, and they’ve had a lot of bad press.”
“It is absolutely horrific. … The level of wickedness that’s described is beyond the pale in that complaint, and anyone with a shred of humanity would find the indignant acts just incomprehensible,” Hart added.
Federal authorities are currently investigating sexual assault and sexual trafficking allegations against McMahon.
Janel Grant, who filed the lawsuit, said McMahon sexually exploited her and attempted to traffic her to other WWE employees. Grant says she was abused by McMahon and was allegedly forced to have sex with WWE’s former head of talent relations, John Laurinaitis — all while working for the company.
McMahon resigned as executive chairman of WWE parent TKO Group after the former employee filed a 67-page federal lawsuit.
WWE President Nick Khan and COO Brad Blum have also been identified as key figures in Grant’s lawsuit, Front Office Sports reports. Khan’s and Blum’s names were not previously reported in the lawsuit, and they are not personally accused of sexual misconduct.
The suit claims that “they and others facilitated and covered up exploitation in ways that make WWE liable under federal anti-trafficking law,” the report says.
On May 23, 1999, Owen Hart died in the ring after a 78-foot fall caused his aorta to sever. In honor of her husband, Martha Hart founded the Owen Hart Foundation, which aims to “provide opportunities for hard-working people who have limited resources and unlimited potential.”
This article mentions sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673.