NFL hall of famer Shannon Sharpe has been accused of sexual assault and battery by a former partner in a lawsuit filed on Sunday in Nevada.
The woman says she met the 56-year-old Sharpe, who is now an ESPN analyst, at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 22. A two-year consensual relationship ensued, during which she alleges he raped her.
“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 lawsuit states. “Defendant Shannon Sharpe, a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, completely fails to understand this basic concept. After many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff – a woman more than thirty years younger than he – and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of ‘no.’”
The woman also claims Sharpe threatened to kill her after she arrived at his house late on one occasion. Additionally she alleges he filmed some of their sexual encounters and shared the footage with others. She is seeking $50m in damages.
In a statement from Sharpe’s lawyer posted to Sharpe’s X account, the former player denied the allegations. “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 read in part.
The woman is being represented by Tony Buzbee, who has also represented women who say they have been assaulted by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Sharpe played 14 seasons in the NFL, won three Super Bowls and was an eight-time Pro Bowler. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. After retirement, he fashioned a successful media career with Fox Sports and ESPN, as well as hosting several podcasts.
