Vince McMahon paid £10m to keep 4 women quiet over sexual misconduct claims

Scandal-hit former WWE chief Vince McMahon allegedly paid almost £10 million in hush money to four women amid claims of sexual misconduct.

The Wall Street Journal reported that disgraced McMahon forked out $12 million over the past 16 years to suppress the allegations.

The amount is much higher than was previously known and, according to the Journal, included a $7.5 million payment to a former wrestler, who said the wrestling don coerced her into giving him oral sex before demoting her.

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The 76-year-old has "voluntarily stepped back from his responsibilities as CEO and Chairman of the Board until the conclusion of the investigation" from the WWE into his alleged behaviour.

Stephanie McMahon, Vince’s daughter and an executive at the company, has assumed CEO duties on an interim basis.

Other payouts were for unsolicited nude photos and an affair that the CEO was trying to keep quiet, the publication claims. Those came in 2006 and 2008.

A $3 million agreement between Vince McMahon and a former WWE lawyer with whom he had allegedly had an affair was already public knowledge.

Last month, he released a short statement and pledged "complete cooperation" during the investigation into the alleged $3 million payout.

He said: "I have pledged my complete cooperation to the investigation by the Special Committee, and I will do everything possible to support the investigation.

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"I have also pledged to accept the findings and outcome of the investigation, whatever they are."

Speaking of her new role, Stephanie wrote on Twitter: "Until the conclusion of the investigation into recent allegations, I am honored to assume the role of interim Chairwoman & CEO.

"I love WWE and all it continues to do to entertain billions around the world."

Stephanie McMahon, 45, had recently announced a leave of absence from the company and "major responsibilities" with the wrestling brand.

The 45-year-old had announced the leave just months after husband and former professional wrestler Triple H suffered a "cardiac event" in September last year.

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