Linda McMahon, co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), has officially separated from her husband, Vince McMahon, following decades of marriage. The separation was confirmed by Linda's attorney, Laura Brevetti, in a statement to the Washington Post. This marks the first public acknowledgment of their split after a long marriage, which began in 1966 when Linda, then just 17, married Vince, who was 21.
The couple, who met as teenagers while Linda attended Havelock High School in North Carolina and Vince studied at Fishburne Military School in Virginia, had two children together: Shane, born in 1970, and Stephanie, born in 1976. Despite their separation, the details surrounding whether they are officially divorced or just separated remain unclear.
While Linda, who served as the CEO of WWE from 1980 to 2009, has distanced herself from her husband personally, she continues to face legal challenges. In October, Linda and Vince were named in a lawsuit filed in Maryland, which alleges that WWE, the McMahons, and WWE's parent company, TKO, were negligent in preventing the exploitation and sexual abuse of "ring boys" by former WWE employee Melvin Phillips Jr.. Phillips, who was the WWE's ringside announcer and ring crew chief, is accused of abusing young boys, and the lawsuit claims the McMahons were aware of the misconduct but failed to act.
Additionally, the "ring boys" lawsuit comes amid a larger legal context involving Vince McMahon, who is facing accusations from Janel Grant, a former WWE employee, who alleges that Vince sexually assaulted her and trafficked her to other men. The lawsuit also claims Vince shared explicit photographs of Grant. Grant is seeking unspecified damages.
Vince McMahon is also under federal investigation by the Southern District of New York regarding allegations of sexual abuse, trafficking, and misconduct during his tenure as head of WWE. Recent reports have indicated that filings by TKO Group Holdings show McMahon agreed to pay $14.6 million in connection with allegations of misconduct from women between 2006 and 2022.
Despite the personal and legal turmoil, Linda McMahon's professional life continues. She was recently nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as the Secretary of Education, a role she is expected to undertake, even as her marriage and family life face public scrutiny.
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