NFL Hall of Famer and popular podcaster Shannon Sharpe has been slapped with a sexual assault lawsuit by a woman, who claims she was raped by him on two separate occasions within a two-month span last year at her Las Vegas residence. In a lawsuit filed on Sunday in a Nevada state court, the anonymous plaintiff, referred to as Jane Doe, alleges assault and seeks compensatory damages amounting to at least $50 million.
According to the complaint, Sharpe "brutally sexually assaulted and anally raped the plaintiff on two distinct occasions in Las Vegas, Nevada, flagrantly disregarding her repeated pleas for him to cease." It further states, "He repeated this heinous act in January."
The plaintiff and Sharpe reportedly met in 2023 at a gym in Los Angeles, and soon afterward, they embarked on a relationship that initially involved consensual sexual encounters but later took a violent turn, as alleged in the lawsuit.
After relocating to Las Vegas, the woman claims that Sharpe, who also moved to the area, confronted her and insisted she take him to her home. Once there, she alleges he coerced her into performing oral sex before forcibly penetrating her.
Three months later, in January, Sharpe allegedly assaulted her a second time. The lawsuit describes how he "grabbed her roughly, pulling and positioning her to perform oral sex for approximately two minutes. Subsequently, Sharpe reportedly repositioned her and forcefully penetrated her against her will."
The lawsuit includes claims of sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress stemming from verbal abuse, among other things. Notably, Sharpe is also entangled in a separate lawsuit filed in a New York state court by an ex-girlfriend who alleges he compelled her to perform oral sex.
Representing the woman suing Sharpe is Tony Buzbee, who has garnered significant media attention for representing numerous accusers in lawsuits against Sean "Diddy" Combs.
Last year, Sharpe inked a multiyear deal with ESPN, enhancing his role on the network's flagship show, First Take.
