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| Shannon Sharpe |
"Shannon Sharpe Named in Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault: 'He Demanded Complete Control,' Plaintiff Claims"
NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN commentator Shannon Sharpe has been named in a lawsuit filed in Nevada state court, in which a woman alleges multiple instances of rape and sexual assault over the course of a nearly two-year relationship.
Filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, the complaint claims that Sharpe, 56, engaged in non-consensual sexual acts with the plaintiff, including recording intimate encounters without her consent and sharing the footage with others. The lawsuit, obtained by PEOPLE, describes the relationship as "rocky" and initially consensual but alleges a pattern of escalating coercion and abuse.
"A woman can say 'yes' to consensual sexual relations with a man ninety-nine times, but when she says 'no' even once, that 'no' means no," the complaint states. "Defendant Shannon Sharpe, a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, completely fails to understand this basic concept."
The plaintiff says she met Sharpe in 2023 at a gym in Los Angeles when she was 22 years old. She alleges Sharpe pursued her persistently and requested that she sign a non-disclosure agreement before meeting him privately—though he ultimately dropped the request after she objected.
The lawsuit recounts several alleged incidents, including a violent altercation during which Sharpe allegedly threatened to kill the woman for arriving late to his home. "He demanded complete control over her time and body," the suit claims, asserting that Sharpe expected her to be available on his terms.
Both parties reportedly relocated to Nevada in 2024. The lawsuit references a separate incident in September 2024, when Sharpe accidentally livestreamed himself during a sexual encounter with another woman. The plaintiff claims this event deeply humiliated her and caused her to distance herself from the relationship.
In October 2024, the plaintiff alleges that Sharpe forced her into a car, drove her to her apartment, and then sexually assaulted her. The complaint includes disturbing descriptions of the alleged assault, including a claim that Sharpe forced her to perform oral sex before anally raping her.
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Another alleged incident occurred in January 2025, when Sharpe visited the woman’s apartment under the pretext of delivering a Christmas and birthday gift. The plaintiff claims that Sharpe again sexually assaulted her and refused to use protection.
Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny Davis, has denied all allegations, characterizing the lawsuit as an attempted “shake down.” In a statement to PEOPLE, Davis described the relationship as consensual and accused the plaintiff of engaging in sexually explicit communications that included “role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios.”
"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," Davis said. "He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court."
The plaintiff is seeking $50 million in damages and is represented by Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who has also represented clients in high-profile cases involving Sean "Diddy" Combs and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson.
"I’m extremely proud to represent Jane Doe," Buzbee said in a statement. "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."
Sharpe, a three-time Super Bowl champion, played for the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens before transitioning into a prominent media career.
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