John Cena defended his admiration for former WWE chairman Vince McMahon in the aftermath of McMahon facing multiple accusations of sexual misconduct and sex trafficking.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly at the Amazon Upfronts on Monday, May 12, Cena, 48, acknowledged there has been backlash to him saying “I love Vince” in a New York Times profile last month.
“Everybody’s entitled to their opinion,” Cena said. “Just like I’m entitled to have an emotional connection to somebody. I don’t hold anybody or how they feel or what they view as permissible or things that’ll make them angry, happy, excited, sad. That’s their right as a human being.”
While speaking about the fan response, Cena added, “I’m not surprised about any of that.”
In the New York Times story, Cena was staunch in his support of his former boss, while noting his very public scandals.
“I don’t care who hears it: I love Vince,” Cena said in the April 18 profile. “I’m not downplaying anything that needs to be decided or allegations of any kind, but when I love somebody, I love them wholeheartedly.”
Cena continued, “I know people are going to be angry about that, but they can’t put their value on my relationship with somebody I love.”
In July 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that McMahon reportedly paid $12 million to hide allegations of “sexual misconduct and infidelity” over the period of 16 years.
McMahon was accused of sex trafficking and numerous allegations of graphic sexual assault in a lawsuit filed by former WWE employee Janel Grant in January 2024. The lawsuit also named former WWE executive John Laurinaitis and WWE itself.
A spokesperson for McMahon denied Grant’s allegations, saying, “This lawsuit is replete with lies, obscene made-up instances that never occurred, and a vindictive distortion of the truth. He will vigorously defend himself.”
Cena recently returned for one final run in WWE, defeating Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41 in April to become a 17-time world champion, the most in company history.
His final professional wrestling match is expected to happen in December.
Outside of the ring, Cena’s movie career continues to flourish with his role in Prime Video’s Heads of State, where he plays the President of the United States.
Cena cautioned that fans playing the most powerful man in the world didn’t exactly make him yearn to campaign for the job himself.
“I just happen to wear a suit and say my character’s in the Oval Office,” Cena told Us. “I think that’s about as far as we can take that.”
Heads of State premieres on Prime Video on July 2.
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