Shannon Sharpe Hit with Lawsuit Following Podcast Deal Pursuit
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe was thrust into the spotlight recently due to his chase for a lucrative nine-figure podcast deal. However, this week has brought him different attention, as he now faces an eight-figure lawsuit.
On Sunday, Sharpe was sued by a woman identified only as “Jane Doe.” The civil lawsuit, spanning 13 pages and filed in a Nevada state court, accuses Sharpe of assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery, among other charges, claiming that he caused intentional emotional distress.
The woman alleges they had a “tumultuous consensual relationship” spanning nearly two years.
According to the lawsuit, Sharpe secretly recorded their intimate moments and shared these videos with others without her consent. The filing claims that it was another woman, not the plaintiff, featured in a sexual encounter Sharpe mistakenly livestreamed on Instagram.
This event, as stated in the lawsuit, was when the plaintiff decided to distance herself from Sharpe. But she asserts that although she withdrew, he continued to pursue her, even after she stopped responding to calls or disclosing her location.
The lawsuit details an incident in October 2024 when Sharpe allegedly confronted her as she was trying to end their relationship. This encounter, according to the lawsuit, ended in forced sex despite her objections.
A further incident reportedly occurred in January 2025, where Sharpe engaged in unprotected sex with her, disregarding her requests for him to stop or use a condom.
From the outset, the complaint emphasizes: a woman may agree to consensual sex 99 times, but a single “no” is absolute. It claims that Shannon Sharpe, accustomed to getting his way, entirely disregarded this principle. Over several months, he allegedly manipulated and controlled the plaintiff—decades his junior—and persistently threatened violence. He allegedly refused to accept “no” and raped her, even as she cried and screamed for him to stop.
The lawsuit demands a minimum of $50 million from Sharpe. If the case proceeds to trial, a jury will determine any recompense based on the presented evidence and legal standards. The awarded sum could potentially be any amount.
The plaintiff is being represented by attorneys Micah Nash and Tony Buzbee. Buzbee gained fame in NFL circles by representing more than 20 plaintiffs who filed suits against quarterback Deshaun Watson from early 2021.
This is a civil lawsuit, meaning there are no criminal penalties directly associated with it. Sharpe will have all available legal defenses as the case progresses.