Bella Twins ‘shocked’ by sex assault claims against McMahon, stepdad

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Two former WWE stars made their first public statement after the recent ugly lawsuit against the company hit close to home.

Nikki and Brie Garcia, who wrestled as the Bella Twins during their time with WWE, posted on Instagram on Monday about the lawsuit which has rocked the company.

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“We are shocked and disheartened with the recent allegations against members of the WWE,” the Garcia twins said in a joint post on Instagram. “It has been a lot to process since we found out this past week, just as you all did.

“This is something we don’t stand for or condone from anyone no matter who they are.

“We want all women to feel safe and supported in the workplace and in their everyday lives.”

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The twins did not name Vince McMahon or John Laurinaitis in their statement, while the latter is their stepfather after having married their mom, Kathy, in March 2016.

Former WWE employee Janel Grant filed the bombshell complaint in federal court last week claiming McMahon would have injury-causing sex with her and also sex-trafficked her to other executives, including Laurinaitis.

Laurinaitis, a former wrestler who went by Johnny Ace, was fired by the WWE in 2022 while under investigation into an earlier round of allegations against McMahon, which involved sexual misconduct and hush money being paid to multiple women.

In the suit filed by Grant last week, she claimed that McMahon would use sex toys named after wrestling stars that caused injuries, including bruising and bleeding.

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Grant also claimed that McMahon and Laurinaitis once forced themselves on her at WWE offices, taking turns holding her down while the other sexually assaulted her.

According to the lawsuit, Grant alleges that McMahon and Laurinaitis told Grant during the assault, “No means yes” and “Take it, b****.”

Shortly after the suit was filed, McMahon stepped down as executive chairman of parent company TKO Group Holdings but has denied the allegations made by Grant.

“I stand by my prior statement that Ms. Grant’s lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and is a vindictive distortion of the truth,” McMahon said in a statement. “I intend to vigorously defend myself against these baseless accusations and look forward to clearing my name.”

The Bella Twins left WWE in 2023 after 15 years with the company. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, but have now moved on to host the show Twin Love on Amazon.

Laurinaitis has not made any public statements about the allegations.

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