Former WWE referee Rita Chatterton has given her thoughts on the latest series of allegations made against Vince McMahon.
Starting in June a number of serious allegations have been against WWE figurehead Vince McMahon, where it is claimed that he paid tens of millions of dollars to multiple woman to cover up affairs and sexual encounters.
Perhaps the most serious of these allegations was made in a report from the Wall Street Journal on July 8th. It is alleged that McMahon coerced a female wrestler into performing oral sex on him. It is also claimed that McMahon demoted the wrestler when she ended their affair and failed to renew their contract after she turned down further sexual advances.
It is alleged that McMahon paid the woman $7.5 million in exchange for her silence.
After the reports were made public attention turn to previous allegations made by former WWE referee Rita Chatterton in 1992. Chatterton alleged that in 1986 McMahon made unwanted sexual advances towards her, and after she turned him down, he raped her. Due to the statute of limitations at the time, no charges were filed against McMahon.
These claims were brought back into the public consciousness by an article in New York Magazine where they were corroborated by former wrestler Leonard Inzitari. The article also featured comments from Chatterton.
Speaking during an appearance on the Cheap Heat Productions podcast, Chatterton explained how the article came out, and why she has previously declined to discuss her claims against McMahon.
“I had met Abraham Riesman [Who wrote the New York Magazine article] and had talked to him about my referee days,” Chatterton said. “This is after I had received the award from the Hall of Fame. And the next thing I know, McMahon was in the papers again for paying hush money. And Mr. Riesman called me and asked me a few questions. I answered a few questions for him.
The next thing you know, we were in the magazine, and here we are. Things are crazy. My phone is going crazy with people wanting me to do interviews, wanting me to do television, this show, and that show. At this point, I have chosen not to do anything.
That doesn’t mean I won’t in the future. But at this point, I am not quite sure what I’m doing. So I’m going to sit back, take my time, think about it and figure it out. If anyone wants to see it, they’re more than welcome to read the article, it’s New York Magazine, or if they want to know the rest of the story, I reported the rest of the story 30 years ago with Geraldo Rivera on ‘Now It Can Be Told’, and that’s on YouTube.
So they’re more than welcome to see it there. But as far as I’m concerned, at this point in my life, I’m not going there again. It still hurts, the whole thing still bothers me. So I would rather not go there.”
In closing, Catterton said that she wasn’t surprised by the fresh allegations, only that it had taken so long for them to be made public.
“No not at all, I’m surprised it’s taken this long, to be honest with you. But none of it surprises me.”
It was recently reported that there is “no real pressure” on Vince McMahon to step away from WWE, despite the number and severity of allegations made against him.
H/t to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.