Shannon Sharpe has been accused of rape in a lawsuit filed in Nevada.
A woman, filing under the pseudonym “Jane Doe,” claimed that the two met at a gym in Los Angeles and ultimately began a “rocky consensual relationship that lasted nearly two years.” The suit, filed Sunday evening, says that the woman was 19 when they met in 2023. Sharpe is 56.
The suit alleged that the relationship grew tense when Sharpe went on Instagram Live last year, apparently while having sex with another woman. (Sharpe later said he went live by mistake.)
“Sharpe flew into fits of anger when Plaintiff noted his infidelity to their relationship, or called him out about his extraneous activities,” the suit said. “What had once been manipulation, control, and intimidation now became something far more dangerous and sinister. Sharpe even figured out how to get into Doe’s apartment complex without her permission. Sharpe made it clear that what Doe wanted was of no moment, that Sharpe would get what he wanted, when he wanted it. In October 2024, Shannon Sharpe violently sexually assaulted and anally raped Plaintiff two different times in Las Vegas, Nevada, blatantly ignoring her requests for him to stop. He did it again in January.”
The plaintiff is being represented by Tony Buzbee, the attorney who won settlements on behalf of dozens of Houston-area massage therapists who alleged they were sexually assaulted by then-Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The lawsuit, which seeks $50 million in damages, was first reported by ProFootballTalk.
Sharpe is a Pro Football Hall of Famer and one of the top stars in sports media. Last week, Front Office Sports reported he was seeking a contract in excess of nine figures for a new podcast deal. Sharpe is also a regular cohost on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith.
Sharpe appeared on First Take in his regular time slot Monday. His agent and a spokesperson for ESPN could not be reached for comment. But Lanny Davis, an attorney representing Sharpe, emailed media a statement Monday afternoon that named the accuser and included several explicit messages from the woman in what they say is proof of a consensual relationship and an attempt to blackmail Sharpe.
The statement calls the lawsuit “a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars. It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations—and it will not succeed … Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct—especially the gross lie of ‘rape’—and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail.”
Sharpe tweeted the statement publicly.
Buzbee, the plaintiff’s attorney, recently represented a client who accused Jay-Z of raping her as a minor, and dropped the suit in February. The rapper responded by suing Buzbee, accusing the lawyer of extorting him. That case is still ongoing. Buzbee is also representing a litany of people who have accused Diddy of sexual abuse.
“I’m extremely proud to represent Jane Doe,” Buzbee said in a statement to Front Office Sports. “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against those with power, fame and money. I look forward to pressing this case in court.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated to add a statement from Sharpe’s attorney.
