Vince McMahon, the former helmsman of WWE, finds himself at odds with the impending Netflix documentary series, 'Mr. McMahon.' In a candid statement issued via X, McMahon acknowledges his participation in the docuseries without remorse but laments, "Much has been distorted or omitted deliberately, fostering a deliberate haze of confusion among viewers."
Crafted and spearheaded by Chris Smith, the visionary behind 'Tiger King,' this six-part opus weaves the triumphant rise and tumultuous fall of McMahon's narrative. McMahon's comprehensive statement echoes:
"My involvement in this Netflix documentary remains unwavering. The creators had a golden opportunity to pen an impartial tale, encapsulating both the exhilarating journey and the towering enterprise I forged, replete with thrills, drama, laughter, and a hefty dose of controversy—all steeped in life's profound lessons. However, a sneak peek at an early, incomplete edit reveals a narrative that falls short, blurring the lines between the fictional 'Mr. McMahon' and the authentic Vince. The title and teasers alone hint at this conflation.
'A plethora of facts have been twisted or omitted altogether, fostering a calculated obfuscation among audiences. The filmmakers rely on conventional editing gimmicks—snippets out of context, aged soundbites—to skew perceptions and prop up a misleading narrative. They even invoke a lawsuit stemming from a consensual relationship's termination as proof that I am, indeed, the 'Mr. McMahon' of folklore. I urge viewers to maintain an open mind, remembering that truth wears many faces.
'Directed and executive produced by Chris Smith, this six-episode series chronicles my transformation of WWE—from a humble, regional endeavor to a global entertainment behemoth—to the seismic allegations of sexual misconduct that ultimately led to my resignation. My abrupt departure from WWE's helm closely followed Janel Grant's harrowing sexual assault lawsuit, filed on January 25, 2024. Notably, neither Janel nor her representatives were consulted for this project, as confirmed by her spokesperson to Deadline.
'In response to McMahon's statement and ahead of the series' debut, Janel Grant's attorney, Ann Callis, issued a passionate statement late Monday. 'Vince McMahon's physical, emotional abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking of Janel Grant spanned over two years. To label his heinous, criminal acts as a mere 'affair' is delusional, a desperate attempt to salvage his tarnished reputation. Though Ms. Grant hasn't viewed 'Mr. McMahon,' we pray it illuminates his deplorable conduct, accurately mirroring the grim realities of his abusive, exploitative nature.
'Ms. Grant will no longer be silenced by McMahon. Her harrowing, excruciating tale serves as a beacon for abuse survivors, empowering them to find their voices. We strive to hold McMahon, John Laurinaitis, and WWE accountable, granting Ms. Grant the justice she deserves in court.'
With Bill Simmons and Zara Duffy joining forces as executive producers, 'Mr. McMahon' is a Library Films and Ringer Films collaboration set to premiere exclusively on Netflix on September 25, promising an unblinking, unapologetic glimpse into the enigmatic world of sports entertainment's most polarizing figure."
