Both legal representatives for Shannon Sharpe and his accuser in a rape allegation have affirmed that the co-host of "First Take" made an offer of $10 million earlier this year, hoping to silence the accusations. Yet, the former NFL star also insists today that the entire affair is merely "a shakedown." Perhaps so, but it also seems like a paradox in semantics, if one were to put it delicately.
In a lawsuit filed on April 20 in Nevada, filled with graphic details, Jane Doe alleges that Sharpe, aged 56, sexually assaulted her repeatedly during their relationship, which began in an LA gym in 2023. Represented by Houston-based Tony Buzbee, who is notorious for filing numerous assault and abuse lawsuits against Sean "Diddy" Combs, the plaintiff accuses Sharpe of assault, sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Seeking a jury trial, Jane Doe is demanding $50 million in damages.
Buzbee, no stranger to controversy himself, is currently locked in a fierce legal battle with Jay-Z over a dismissed rape case involving the rapper and Combs. On Tuesday, Buzbee took to social media to clarify on his client's behalf, as Sharpe and his legal team attacked her credibility. "On one hand, Mr. Sharpe and his lawyers claim that the case filed by Jane Doe is baseless. On the other hand, they have admitted in writing that Mr. Sharpe offered Jane Doe $10 million to drop her lawsuit," Buzbee stated on Instagram this afternoon. "This is indeed true. Jane Doe was offered $10 million to settle, but she rejected it, choosing to pursue litigation instead. Sharpe's team is now trying to discredit and expose her. As anticipated, they are also attacking me. We will not be swayed by these tactics."
Sharpe and his team have denied the allegations and argued that the incidents of rape, choking, and other claims detailed in the 13-page civil suit are being taken out of context and were consensual. In a breach of protocol for such sexual violence cases, they even disclosed Jane Doe's real name online. Speaking emphatically about his friend and colleague's innocence, Stephen A. Smith said on his show this morning that the allegations were "a sad situation." Before the $10 million offer came to light, Smith, who is also a host and producer at "First Take," revealed that he had spoken to ESPN boss Jimmy Pitaro (and future Disney CEO contender) about the Sharpe situation, and the executive had assured him that they were "taking this matter very seriously and investigating it thoroughly."
Moreover, before his attorney Lanny Davis held his own virtual press conference on Tuesday to decry the lawsuit, Sharpe posted a video online where he accused Buzbee of "targeting Black men," referring to the frequently accused Combs and Jay-Z. Without addressing the lawsuit on "First Take" today and accusing Buzbee of trying to "manipulate the media," Sharpe also stated in his video that he planned to sue the Texas lawyer and the accuser (who appears on the subscription service OnlyFans) for defamation in the near future.
