Vince McMahon is currently embroiled in another legal battle—this time being charged with neglecting allegations of sexual misconduct from previous employees referred to as “ring boys.”
The legal documents were submitted in Baltimore County on Wednesday … which also names Vince’s spouse, Linda McMahon, WWE, and its parent company, TKO Group, as defendants.
The lawsuit states that Melvin Phillips Jr. —who was the chief of the ring crew as well as a ringside announcer—recruited underage boys to aid the crew with tasks and chores during wrestling events.
The allegations assert that some of the boys were as young as 12 or 13 … and the true motive behind Phillips hiring them was “to sexually exploit them” with the lure of access to sought-after WWE events.
The legal representation for the claimants states Phillips specifically targeted youths from unstable family backgrounds … and that the abuse took place in wrestling venues, hotel rooms, and “in plain sight.”
Phillips passed away in 2012.
While he is not accused of being directly involved in these incidents, the lawsuit claims McMahon and other defendants were aware of Phillips’ exploitation of his role within the organization to “groom and molest Ring Boys”—often in view of wrestlers and other executives.
“Thanks to the courage of our clients, we now have an opportunity to hold accountable those who facilitated and perpetuated the open, widespread sexual exploitation of these young boys,” stated Greg Gutzler, a partner at DiCello Levitt, in a press announcement.
The firm mentioned that the FBI has identified at least 10 victims assaulted by Phillips, but they suspect there are many more who remain unspoken.
“It is utterly appalling that so many were aware of the sexual exploitation of the ring boys and chose not to act to prevent or halt it.”
McMahon stepped down from WWE in January 2024 after accusations by former staff member Janel Grant, who charged him and ex-executive John Laurinaitis with sexual misconduct. He has denied these claims.