NFL Hall of Famer and sports media personality Shannon Sharpe has been accused of rape in a 13-page civil suit, in which a Jane Doe alleges he sexually assaulted her on two occasions over the course of the past year. The three-time Super Bowl champ, who is being sued for over $50 million in compensatory and punitive damages, released a statement via his lawyer online disputing the claims.
The lawsuit, filed Sunday in Nevada’s Clark County by Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee (who is representing a number of accusers against Sean Combs), alleges that Sharpe’s consensual but “deeply manipulative” relationship with a woman 30 years his junior turned abusive, resulting in threats and actions of physical violence, including anal rape.
According to the complaint, Sharpe, who is now 56, first met the then-19-year-old plaintiff in 2023 at a Los Angeles gym and “incessantly pursued” her. After their initial meeting, the lawsuit describes a period of a year-and-a-half where the plaintiff met Sharpe at his home as often as four times a week, whereby the podcaster would “treat her like an object.”
The suit alleges Sharpe choked her, threatened to kill her, recorded their sexual activities and shared them with others without her knowledge and told her that he wanted to do things to her that would “make no other man want her.” It also alleges Sharpe “figured out how to get into Doe’s apartment complex without her permission.”
In one alleged encounter, Sharpe berated her while a firearm was visible in the room. “Terrified for her safety, Plaintiff tried sharing her location with friends from her iPhone—just in case. But Sharpe saw her doing this. The moment he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and told her ‘If you ever do that again, I will fucking kill you,’” the document reads.
The lawsuit contains mention of Sharpe’s accidental Instagram Live stream of him having sex with a woman in September 2024, something the suit claims was anything but unintentional. The woman was not the Doe in question, with the suit stating that the action “not only hurt her emotionally—it made her fear for her sexual health and the risk of sexually transmitted disease,” leading her to distance herself from Sharpe.
After once again pursuing Doe following the livestream incident, the lawsuit alleges that on Oct. 6, 2024 Sharpe forced oral sex on the woman, holding her in place to do so as she sobbed. He then forcibly anally raped her, the suit claims. On Jan. 2, 2025, the plaintiff said she was once again forcibly induced to perform oral sex for two minutes and then raped.
“As soon as he penetrated her, Plaintiff screamed and sobbed. Her cries for help did nothing to stop Sharpe. The assault lasted roughly 10 minutes, ending only when Sharpe ejaculated inside her. Plaintiff cried and begged repeatedly for him to stop,” the suit describes.
The document also references another court matter, Michele Evans v. Shannon Sharpe, filed in January 2023 in New York, which alleges Sharpe acted “eerily similar” to the actions presented in this current suit, including forcing nonconsensual oral sex and vaginal penetration while telling Evans that he would “make it so no other man would want” her.
“Shannon Sharpe isn’t just a sports icon—he’s something far worse. He is a flawed, narcissistic individual who has spent years using his fame, power, and influence to manipulate, control, subjugate and violate women. With this suit, Plaintiff intends to put an end to this egregious conduct,” the lawsuit states.
Suing for assault, sexual assault, battery and sexual battery, as well as intentional infliction of emotional distress, the suit demands a jury trial.
In response to the suit, Sharpe posted a statement via his lawyer Lanny J. Davis on social media in which he names the woman and apparently cites text messages supporting what he deems is a consensual relationship. The statement calls the suit 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.”
Davis also claims the plaintiff “heavily edited” a recorded video of a consensual sexual encounter to paint it as nonconsensual, refusing to provide a copy of it. In response, Davis released explicit messages allegedly sent by Doe to illustrate “a clear picture” of a “consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested” by her.
“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,” the statement reads in part.
In the summer of last year, Sharpe signed a multiyear contract with ESPN in a deal that expanded his presence on morning debate show First Take and other network programs.
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