Vince McMahon has addressed the alleged rape of a female WWE referee Rita Chatterton in the new Netflix documentary Mr McMahon.
Chatterton accused McMahon of raping her in 1986, after working at the company since 1984 as their first female referee.
She came out publicly about this in 1992.
She alleged that the WWE co-founder and former chairman had sexually assaulted her, forcing her into performing oral sex on him.
McMahon has once again become embroiled in controversy (Ethan Miller via Getty Images)
Her accusations came following the expiry of the statute of limitations.
The statute of limitations is the amount of time a victim has to come forward in which legal charges can still be brought forward, and it varies from state to state in America.
In this case, its expiration meant criminal charges could not be brought against McMahon.
McMahon has always denied the allegation from Chatterton, though a multi-million dollar settlement was made with her in early 2023.
McMahon’s lawyers said this was ‘to avoid the cost of litigation’ and reiterated his denial of the allegations.
Chatterton was the first female WWE referee (Netflix)
Whilst he has previously made statements via his lawyer, this is a rare comment from McMahon on accusations against him.
Discussing the allegations, McMahon said:
“When you’re accused of this and accused of that there is like this deluge of things, you’re this you’re that.
“One of the things was an alleged rape that never happened.”
The Netflix documentary then played an interview clip of Chatterton in ’86 detailing that she was ‘forced into oral sex’ by McMahon.
She said: “When I couldn’t complete his desires he got really angry with me and and started ripping off my jeans.
“He pulled me on top of him and told me again if I wanted a half-a-million dollar a year contract I had to satisfy him and if I didn’t satisfy him I was blackballed.
“My wrist was all black and blue, he didn’t stop.”
McMahon went on to say: “Once you’re accused of rape, you’re a rapist. But, it was consensual and actually had it been a rape, the statute of limitations had run out so I mean it’s all kind of crap like that people are digging up and trying to find something on you”.
Chatterton’s accusation re-emerged earlier this year as part of subpoena by federal agents investigating payoffs by McMahon that may have broken the law.
This came following a lawsuit by Janel Grant of Vince McMahon, WWE, and John Laurinitis, who worked as an executive at WWE.
Her lawsuit alleges the duo sexually assaulted her and engaged in sex trafficking.
Both have denied the allegations.
McMahon has been critical of the documentary Mr McMahon, which he took part in, calling it ‘deceptive’.
The mini-series released today, and chronicles his life and story, as well as addressing the various allegations and scandals McMahon has become embroiled in.
LADbible has reached out to MacMahon’s representatives for comment.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix Getty/Michael N. Todaro
Topics: Netflix, TV, TV and Film, WWE
Viewers have been shocked this week after a Netflix documentary, Mr McMahon, revealed that the WWE former CEO and Chairman had actually pitched a storyline in which he would have impregnated his own daughter.
Mr McMahon chronicles the life of the man who was a co-founder of WWE, and has addressed several controversies throughout his life.
One of these involves his daughter, Stephanie.
As well as himself, she was a on screen presence in WWE for years, often playing a character on the side of the authoritarian WWE.
When she got pregnant, however, McMahon wanted to turn it into a storyline, with the Netflix documentary seeing him say: “One of my storyline ideas was that Stephanie gets pregnant. I think…I was the one who impregnated her. My character. I think it was something like that. It was like, ‘No.’ That one didn’t make it”.
Whilst this was the first time Vince had spoken about the potential storyline, it was previously addressed by Stephanie in another documentary.
She recalled: “My dad did approach me about wanting to be the father of my baby in the storyline for TV, which was actually only the second time I’ve said ‘no’ to him for something he wanted to do.
(WWE)
“That one was just a little too gross, actually. It was completely disgusting and I don’t find the entertainment value in it at all.
“And he’s actually my father, so how could I even play that out? I can’t fake kiss my dad like we were in love or something. It’s just revolting all the way around.”
Apparently though, when she told Vince no – that wasn’t the end of it.
She went on to say: “Then he came up with the idea of Shane to be the father of my baby – my brother.
“Again, I [just said] ‘no’. I know that happens in this world, but it’s not going to happen with us. I can’t do that. It’s too much.”
The documentary has seen a huge amount of reaction, staying in the top five on Netflix since its release, with it currently sitting at number three.
One other scene, which fans have noted as being an insight into McMahon’s relationship with his children, involved his son, Shane McMahon.
Shane was, similarly to Stephanie, heavily involved in WWE, known especially for his high flying exploits which put himself at serious risk.
Paul Heyman, a stalwart of WWE and the Wrestling Industry, described a scene in the documentary in which Shane pitched an idea Vince wasn’t a fan of.
(L-R) Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque (Jeff Bottari via Getty Images)
He then said that Vince went as far as to say ‘not while I’m alive’, before handing him a knife, pointing to his chest and saying: “If you want it so bad, stick the dagger right here”.
Vince McMahon put out a statement prior to the documentary’s release slamming the Netflix series, calling it ‘deceptive’.
Featured Image Credit: WWE via Getty Images / Jeff Bottari via Getty Images
Topics: Netflix, TV, TV and Film, WWE, Weird, Documentaries
Warning: this article mentions sexual abuse which some readers may find distressing.
The actor behind Lyle Menendez in Netflix’s hit new series of Monsters has responded to his real-life counterpart’s brother, Erik, slamming the show.
Erik released a statement from jail, via his wife Tammi, in which he called the Netflix series ‘blatant lies’, slamming in particular the show’s portrayal of his brother Lyle.
An extract of the statement reads: “I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show.
“I can only believe they were done so on purpose. It is with a heavy heart that I say, I believe Ryan Murphy cannot be this naive and inaccurate about the facts of our lives so as to do this without bad intent.”
Erik and Lyle Menendez, who became infamous for killing their parents in 1989, accused their father Jose of sexually abusing them.
Whilst this is covered in the show, Erik was not pleased with the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy’s portrayal of it.
The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik. (Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images)
Erik went on to say:
“It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime have taken the painful truths several steps backward – back through time to an era when the prosecution built a narrative on a belief system that males were not sexually abused, and that males experienced rape trauma differently than women.
“Those awful lies have been disrupted and exposed by countless brave victims over the last two decades who have broken through their personal shame and bravely spoken out.”
Nicolas Alexander Chavez (Kevin Winter via Getty Images)
The actor who portrays Lyle in the show, Nicolas Alexander Chavez, told USA Today: “I can only respond with sympathy and empathy in that I can only imagine how difficult it is to have the most traumatic moment of your life put up there on the screen for everyone to see.”
Alexander Chavez is not the first person linked to the show to respond to the criticism from Erik.
The statement elicited a response from the show’s creator Ryan Murphy, who said: “What about the parents? We had an obligation to storytellers to also try and put in their perspective, based on our research, which we did.”
He went on to point to the fact the show is ’60 to 65 per cent’ focused on their abuse, saying: “We do it very carefully, and we give them their day in court, and they talk openly about it, we present the facts from their point of view.”
Monsters is the second season of Murphy’s Netflix true crime show.
Season one focused on Jeffrey Dahmer, and season three will focus on serial killer Ed Gein.
Charlie Hunnam is set to star as Gein.
Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story is on Netflix now.
Featured Image Credit: Kevin Winter, Getty Images / Ronald L. Soble / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Topics: TV and Film, Menendez Brothers, Celebrity, Netflix
One of the latest horror films to land in cinemas is so ‘graphic’ viewers have been walking out before it even finishes.
Starring Demi Moore, the film premiered on 20 September and has pretty simply been described as absolutely ‘f**ked’.
The gory movie follows a fading celebrity (Moore) who decies to use a blackmarket drug to generate a ‘younger, more beautiful, more perfect’ version of herself (Margaret Qualley). But there’s horrific side effects.
Also starring Dennis Quaid, satirical body horror film The Substance is being described as possibly ‘Moore’s finest hour’.
But while it’s being completely raved about, it’s just all too much for some.
One viewer wrote on X: “Just came out of ‘the substance’. a truly arresting experience. two people walked out. I was doubled over laughing multiple times. would never recommend it to anyone I love or ever see it again. loved the whole experience and so glad I saw it in cinemas.”
As another similarly echoed: “My review of The Substance is that people walked out of our screening and as far as I’m concerned we don’t have enough movies where that might happen.”
Demi Moore is being praised for her performance in The Substance (Mubi)
It really got to one guy as viewer shared: “My date wouldn’t let me drive him home after The Substance because ‘we haven’t been seeing each other long enough’ for him to throw up in front of me.
“He literally just walked home in the rain to vomit with dignity. Five-star movie.”
Another said that while they loved it, four people walked out of their screening. They added: “Going into The Substance without seeing a single trailer and only knowing the very basic concept of it was a f**king trip.”
The Substance is sitting at an impressive 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer with 71 percent from viewers.
Plenty call it the likes of ‘mind-blowing’, ‘nuts in a good way’ and ‘outstanding’.
Another confessed: “I was not prepared for The Substance. Everyone left the theatre in silence trying to comprehend what we all just witnessed.
The movie has been a bit too much for some (Mubi)
“Its so good but so gory, so if you have a weak stomach this probably isn’t the film for you. Demi Moore is spectacular. As much as I would like to watch it a second time, I’m not sure my psyche or stomach can handle it.”
But some do call it ‘the most disgusting movie’ and ‘boring’ as it ‘went straight to ridiculousness’.
And The Sun reports that Moore was ready for this divisiveness, as she said: “When I read The Substance I thought, wow, this could be really amazing — or it could be a f**king disaster.
“So, of course, I had to say yes.
“I feel like Ghost was very similar, but I think when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone and it makes us afraid, it always makes us a little better.”
Featured Image Credit: Mubi
Topics: Horror, TV and Film, Film
I swear there’s always a new documentary landing on Netflix every time I look at the ‘Trending Now’ section – and I absolutely love it.
So, just in time for Halloween season, the latest drop has some links to horror as it tells the true story behind a 2021 hit film.
Released on Netflix today (17 October), The Devil on Trial covers the true story behind The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It.
I mean, if you’ve seen the supernatural horror flick then you’ll have a pretty good idea about this story, but the Netflix synopsis reads: “The Devil on Trial explores the first — and only — time ‘demonic possession’ has officially been used as a defence in a US murder trial.
“Including firsthand accounts of alleged devil possession and a shocking murder, this extraordinary story forces reflection on our fear of the unknown.”
Way back in 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson claimed he’d been possessed by some supernatural entity which made him murder his landlord, Alan Bono.
And this was the defence put to court, which is obviously pretty wild.
Netflix
So, and bear with me, this trial is where we find the links to The Conjuring.
To prove Johnson’s innocence, the defence enlisted an expert ghost hunting team.
Ed and Lorraine Warren were the pair hired – yes, the same pair from the film – and had already visited 11-year-old’s David Glatzel’s family prior to the murder.
According to the claims from the paranormal investigator, when they’d tried to rid the child of a demon, it had ended up in Johnson.
They say when they’d desperately been removing it from Glatzel, it had flew into his body instead.
The documentary director, Chris Holt, said in the podcast You Can’t Make This Up: “When the Warrens came along, they were told to start documenting it. They needed to provide proof and evidence to the diocese [to get approved for] an exorcism.
Netflix
“[The documentary] is the first time that audio and those Polaroids have ever been shown — these have been laying in a drawer for 20 to 30 odd years.”
And then a few months on from this demonic trade, Johnson ended up killing Bono and claiming he’d been taken over by something overworldly.
In the end, the court did not believe Johnson’s side of the story, and he was convicted of first-degree manslaughter.
Johnson would go on to serve just five years of his 10 to 20-year sentence.
In the history of the US legal system, this is the only time demonic possession has been used as a defence in a murder trial.
The Devil on Trial is now on Netflix.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix/Warner Bros
Topics: Netflix, TV and Film, True Crime, Documentaries