Nikki and Brie Garcia made their first public comments about the sexual assault claims made against former WWE boss Vince McMahon and his former head of talent relations John Laurinaitis, who is the former wrestlers’ stepfather.
Former WWE employee Janel Grant filed a complaint in federal court in Connecticut last week claiming McMahon would have injury-causing sex with her and sex-trafficked her to other executives in the company, including Laurinaitis.
“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.”
The two former WWE stars, who were the Bella Twins in the company, did not mention either McMahon or Laurinaitis by name in their short statement.
Laurinaitis, who is also named as a defendant in the suit, married the Garcia twins’ mother Kathy in March 2016.
He was terminated by WWE in 2022 as he was under investigation by the company as it looked into sexual misconduct and hush money allegations against McMahon.
The shocking lawsuit was filed last Thursday and shook the wrestling world over the allegations against one of the sport’s most iconic names.
In the suit, Grant claimed that McMahon would use sex toys named after wrestling stars that caused bruising and bleeding.
The former employee also claimed that McMahon and Laurinaitis once forced themselves on her at WWE offices as they took turns holding her down while the others sexually assaulted her, according to the lawsuit.
The bombshell suit alleges that McMahon and Laurinaitis told Grant during the assault, “No means yes” and “Take it, b—h.”
A day after the suit was filed, McMahon stepped down as executive chairman of WWE-parent TKO Group Holdings but has denied the allegations.
“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.”
Laurinaitis has not made any public statements about the allegations.
Nikki and Brie officially left WWE in 2023 after debuting in 2008 and were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021
