Former NFL tight finish and present media character Shannon Sharpe is taking a web page straight out of Jay-Z’s defensive playbook, firing again publicly simply hours after being slapped with a $50 million lawsuit.
The authorized motion, filed by a Jane Doe represented by the identical lawyer who unsuccessfully pursued Jay-Z in an analogous case introduced final 12 months, accuses Sharpe of assault, sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional misery.
The lawsuit, filed on April 20 by the unidentified girl, alleges that Sharpe sexually assaulted her a number of instances in late 2024 and early 2025.
In accordance with the criticism, the New York Submit reviews, the lady claims she and Sharpe had been in a “rocky consensual relationship” for practically two years earlier than the alleged incidents occurred.
“A girl can say ‘sure’ to consensual sexual relations with a person ninety-nine instances, however when she says ‘no’ even as soon as, that ‘no’ means no,” reads the primary web page of the 13-page criticism filed in Nevada state courtroom. The lawsuit alleges that Sharpe, who’s greater than 30 years older than the plaintiff, manipulated and managed her all through their relationship.
Inside hours of the lawsuit being filed, Sharpe’s legal professional, Lanny J. Davis, launched an announcement characterizing the civil go well with as “a blatant and cynical try to shake down Mr. Sharpe for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.”
Davis claims the litigation has been “orchestrated by her legal professional Tony Buzbee,” and launched express textual content messages allegedly despatched by the accuser to Sharpe.
The launched texts embrace messages the place the plaintiff allegedly wrote, “I would like you to place a canine collar round my neck and choke me with it when you’re f—king me” and “provided that you place that child gravy in me” and “I would like u to place a giant black child in me.”
Davis’ assertion claims that the textual content messages are a part of his shopper’s protection, although they reportedly led to August 2024, earlier than the alleged assaults occurred in October 2024 and January 2025. He additional alleges that the plaintiff “secretly recorded” a consensual sexual encounter and edited the video to “falsely painting a consensual sexual act as non-consensual.”
Sharpe’s aggressive protection technique of responding publicly mirrors that of rapper Jay-Z, who just lately noticed the dismissal of sexual assault criticism introduced by the identical legal professional who’s bringing the go well with towards Sharpe.
Texas-based legal professional Tony Buzbee represented a lady who accused Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault in an assault she claimed occurred when she was a teen at a celebration in 2000. That case towards the 2 hip-hop moguls was finally dismissed with prejudice by the plaintiff in February after Jay-Z known as the lawsuit “frivolous, fictitious, and appalling” and claimed it value him roughly $20 million in misplaced enterprise alternatives.
The timing of Sharpe’s authorized battle is especially notable, as reviews surfaced on April 19 that he’s in search of a $100 million contract for his household of podcasts that features the favored “Membership Shay Shay,” in line with Entrance Workplace Sports activities.
The ESPN character has vowed by way of his legal professional to “combat these false claims vigorously in courtroom.”
Social media has been fast to react to the express textual content messages launched by Sharpe’s group.
One individual on his Instagram commented, “You gotta chill out man,” whereas one other wrote, “I’m positive he harmless…however Unc want a [poking emoji] time for lettin her say put a ‘huge black child’ a number of instances.”
A 3rd remark noticed, “Shawty was going loopy within the textual content thread.”
Some commenters invoked Sharpe’s catchphrase “Lakers in 5,” a signature prediction he made well-known on ESPN’s “First Take,” suggesting the Los Angeles Lakers would win an NBA championship collection in simply 5 video games. The phrase has change into a rallying cry for Sharpe’s followers.
“‘Huge black child?’ [Yuck Face Emoji] Fetishize, Tellin’ lies, credit-wise, LAKERS IN 5,” one individual tweeted.
A humorous ladies wow that is uncommon🤣 what a fuckin shot
— Bond, James Bond (@ChunkyHunk_) April 21, 2025
One other Twitter person wrote, “‘Attempting to take my money, they gained’t discover my stash, I simply needed some ass, Lakers in 5’ – Shannon.”
😁😭😁
— the City Yogi (@Lazce) April 21, 2025
The lawsuit alleges that the connection between Sharpe and the plaintiff started deteriorating after he by chance livestreamed himself having intercourse with one other girl in September 2024.
Nonetheless, the criticism states that the plaintiff on this case just isn’t the lady from that incident.
As either side put together for what could possibly be a contentious authorized battle, Davis has made it clear that the case might finally come right down to the jury’s interpretation of the video proof.
In accordance with Davis, Sharpe “categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — particularly the gross lie of ‘rape’” and believes the recording was “a part of her deliberate set-up as a part of her blackmail scheme.”
