Netflix's latest docuseries, Mr. McMahon, provided non-wrestling enthusiasts with an insightful view into the tumultuous life of the former WWE owner, Vincent K. McMahon. This miniseries delved into a 1980s WWE ring boys scandal, which has now sparked a fresh legal battle involving McMahon, his wife and ex-WWE CEO Linda McMahon, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
As reported by NBC, five former WWE ring boys—a term used for teenagers who assisted in setting up the ring at shows—have filed a lawsuit alleging that McMahon and WWE neglected to shield them from sexual exploitation by the late ring announcer Melvin Phillips Jr., who passed away in 2012. At the time of the alleged offenses, the victims were minors, some as young as 12 and 13 years old. The lawsuit claims that McMahon dismissed Phillips in 1988 due to the initial accusations, only to rehire him with a directive to 'stay away from kids.' Phillips allegedly continued to victimize his targets after rejoining WWE.
The law firms DiCello Levitt and Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, representing the victims, stated, 'The underaged ring boys were groomed, exploited, and sexually abused by Phillips, who preyed on children from broken homes.' McMahon is accused of being personally cognizant of Phillips' 'peculiar and unnatural interest' in underage boys.
McMahon was ousted from WWE following another lawsuit accusing him of sexually trafficking and exploiting a former employee. That case is currently suspended pending an investigation by the Justice Department.
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