By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-21 00:29:59 | Updated at 2024-11-24 00:54:44
3 days ago
Linda and Vince McMahon have officially gone their separate ways, a report revealed Wednesday.
President-elect Donald Trump tapped his transition co-chair and World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) co-founder Linda McMahon as his Education Secretary Tuesday night.
And not even 24 hours later, her relationship status was unveiled amid her 58-year marriage with embattled former WWE chairman Vince.
Linda's attorney Laura Brevetti confirmed that the Education Secretary nominee and Vince had separated in a report by the Washington Post.
After meeting as teenagers, Linda dated Vince McMahon while the pair were in high school - as she attended Havelock High School in North Carolina while he attended Fishburne Military School in Virginia.
In 1966, at the age of just 17 after graduating high school, Linda would marry Vince McMahon who was himself only 21 years old at the time.
Linda McMahon's attorney confirmed that she had separated from husband Vince McMahon
They have two children together - Shane, their first child, who was born in 1970, and Stephanie, who was born in 1976.
However, Wednesday's report marks the first time either Linda or Vince have publicly acknowledged their split.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported in 2022 that Vince and Linda were separated but not divorced. At that time, neither McMahon commented on the report.
But when the couple split or whether they are officially divorced remains unclear.
While Linda, the former CEO of WWE from 1980 through 2009, may have parted ways with her husband, she still finds herself embroiled in a lawsuit alongside Vince.
A lawsuit was filed in Maryland in October against the McMahons, the WWE, and WWE parent company TKO, alleging negligence that allowed the group known as the 'ring boys' to be 'exploited and sexually abused' by a company employee.
The former WWE employee named as Melvin Phillips Jr. was the company's' ringside announcer and ring crew chief under McMahon's leadership.
The plaintiffs alleged that the McMahons were aware they were being sexually abused by other WWE employees and did not do enough to protect them.
President-elect Donald Trump tapped Linda as his Education Secretary Tuesday night
The 'ring boys' lawsuit, which was branded 'baseless' by Brevetti, cites the decision to come forward now coincides with the information they have learned from Vince McMahon's lawsuit from Janel Grant, who claims he sexually assaulted her when she worked for the company.
Vince is additionally accused of trafficking Grant to other men and sharing nude photographs of the plaintiff. Grant is seeking unspecified damages from Vince.
Meanwhile, Vince faces another ongoing federal investigation by the Southern District of New York into allegations that he used his position at the helm of WWE to commit and conceal sexual abuse and trafficking, according to the Washington Post.
Securities and Exchange Commission filings by WWE's parent company, TKO Group Holdings, allegedly show he agreed to pay $14.6 million in connection to 'allegations of misconduct.' The Wall Street Journal reported that the money was promised to women who accused him of sexual misconduct between 2006 and 2022.
Linda is not directly implicated with the latter two cases.
In addition to Linda, other Trump's nominees have been caught up in alleged sex scandals.
Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick for attorney general, has been accused of having sex with minors. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing.
Linda McMahon became president of the organization in 1993 before being promoted to the role of CEO in 1997.
Donald Trump speaks at a press conference with Linda McMahon during her time as head of Small Business Administration on March 29 2019 during the former's first term in office
Vince and Linda face a lawsuit alleging negligence of sexual abuse from 'ring boys'
One of her major interests in WWF and WWE was product merchandising, which saw her negotiate many of the company's business deals and create the company's first line of action figures, Wrestling Superstars, in 1984.
It was a first in the wrestling industry and helped expand the company's popularity with children.
She was also the primary negotiator for the World Wrestling Federation's 2000 TV deal with Viacom.
McMahon stepped down from her position as the CEO of WWE in 2009 to try her hand at politics.
This saw her serve on the Connecticut Board of Education for a year, during which time she spoke of her desire to explore the education sector and become a teacher.
