Former NFL tight end and ESPN host Shannon Sharpe is facing a civil lawsuit filed by a Nevada woman, who alleges that he subjected her to years of verbal abuse, controlling behavior, and violent outbursts. The lawsuit, filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, claims that the two had a “rocky consensual relationship” in 2023, but it turned into a “fearful and non-consensual” situation by summer 2024.
Sharpe’s attorney has released text messages allegedly from the woman, calling the suit a “blatant attempt to shake him down for millions.” Sharpe denies the allegations and plans to fight them in court. The lawsuit seeks over $50 million in damages and penalties.
The Nevada woman met Sharpe at a Los Angeles-area health club in 2023 and claims that he recorded their intimate encounters without consent, threatened to kill her, and became increasingly verbally abusive over time. The suit also accuses Sharpe of controlling behavior, which eventually turned into a violent relationship.
Sharpe was a four-time All-Pro tight end who played for the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens from 1990 to 2003. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and has been a prominent figure in sports media since his retirement.
Source: https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/44789758/woman-lawsuit-accuses-shannon-sharpe-sexual-assault-battery