Attorney: Janel Grant deserves to tell her own story, not be part of someone else’s

With the release of Netflix’s “Mr. McMahon” docuseries approaching, representatives for Janel Grant held a virtual press briefing on Thursday.

Grant’s attorney Ann Callis and Kendra Barkoff Lamy of public relations firm SKDK conducted the briefing. On the subject of whether Grant was asked to appear in Netflix’s series, Callis said Grant deserves the opportunity to tell her own story — not be part of someone else’s.

“We have not seen the documentary. Janel deserves the opportunity to tell her full story, not be a part of someone else’s. She will get her day in court, and [Vince] McMahon will be held accountable,” Callis said. “And Janel has the right to tell her story in her own way at the right time.”

Callis said she hopes the series does Grant’s story justice.

“Janel’s story is an important one, and we hope Neftlix’s docuseries does it justice,” Callis said. “Her experience is integral to an accurate and whole retelling of the story of the WWE and Mr. McMahon.”

Grant, an ex-WWE employee, filed a lawsuit this January accusing McMahon of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking. The lawsuit also lists John Laurinaitis and WWE as defendants. Callis said, because of the cruelty that was inflicted on her, Grant suffers from severe post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, and cannot leave her house for weeks at a time.

Callis was asked whether they have heard from WWE since the lawsuit was filed.

“There was some initial outreach right after the lawsuit was filed,” she responded during the briefing. “Very brief, and we have really not heard anything since then.”

Grant’s lawsuit is paused until December while the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York conducts a criminal investigation into McMahon. Callis said — if there are any charges against McMahon — Grant’s team would like those to be brought “expeditiously” so her lawsuit can resume as soon as possible. But Callis said they are not frustrated with the time the SDNY investigation is taking.

“We want it to be right, not fast,” she said.

McMahon resigned from WWE in January after Grant’s lawsuit was filed. He maintains his innocence and has called Grant’s allegations “baseless.”

Netflix’s “Mr. McMahon” docuseries premieres next Wednesday (September 25) with all six one-hour episodes available to stream.