Vince McMahon Accuses Netflix Documentary of Using ‘Editing Tricks’ to Further a ‘Deceptive Narrative’
WWE co-founder Vince McMahon says he has no regrets about participating in Netflix’s Mr. McMahon documentary, which drops this Wednesday — but he sure isn’t happy with the end result.
Directed by Chris Smith (Tiger King) and culled from over 200 hours of interviews with McMahon (prior to his resignation), family members, business associates and big names in wrestling, as well as the journalists who uncovered the allegations against McMahon that led him to step down, Mr. McMahon “chronicles the rise and fall of Vince McMahon…. From his transformation of the WWE from a small, regional business into a global entertainment powerhouse to the explosive sexual misconduct allegations that led to his eventual resignation, this six-episode series offers a deep dive into McMahon’s life and his enduring franchise.”
More from TVLine
In a statement posted to X on Monday, McMahon wrote, “I don’t regret participating in this Netflix documentary. The producers had an opportunity to tell an objective story about my life and the incredible business I built, which were equally filled with excitement, drama, fun, and a fair amount of controversy and life lessons.
“Unfortunately, based on an early partial cut I’ve seen, this doc falls short and takes the predictable path of conflating the ‘Mr. McMahon’ character with my true self, Vince,” he added.
“A lot has been misrepresented or left out entirely in an effort to leave viewers intentionally confused,” McMahon posited. “The producers use typical editing tricks with out of context footage and dated soundbites etc. to distort the viewers’ perception and support a deceptive narrative. In an attempt to further their misleading account, the producers use a lawsuit based on an affair I ended as evidence that I am, in fact, ‘Mr. McMahon.’”
The “lawsuit based on an affair” (as McMahon put it) was filed in January by ex-WWE employee Janel Grant, who accused McMahon of sexual assault and trafficking and also named the company’s former head of talent and GM, John Laurinaitis, as a defendant. In the suit, Grant alleged that McMahon forced her into a sexual relationship to keep her job and had shared explicit videos and photos of her to other employees. (A copy of the lawsuit can be read here.)
In response to McMahon’s X posting, Grant’s attorney, Ann Callis, released a statement asserting, “Vince McMahon physically and emotionally abused, sexually assaulted and human trafficked Janel Grant for more than two years. Calling his horrific and criminal behavior ‘an affair’ is delusional and nothing more than a sad attempt to save his shredded reputation.
“Although Ms. Grant has not seen the Mr. McMahon docuseries, we hope it shines a bright light on his abhorrent and criminal actions by accurately portraying the realities of his abusive and exploitative behavior,” Callis said. “Ms. Grant will no longer be silenced by McMahon. Her story, though deeply troubling and exceptionally painful, is one that can help other abuse survivors find their voices. We seek to hold McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE accountable and to give Ms. Grant her day in court.”
TVLine has reached out to Netflix for comment.
Best of TVLine
Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
