Lawsuit Accuses NFL Legend Shannon Sharpe of Rape

Shannon Sharpe, an American former professional football player, is in trouble after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman. According to a lawsuit filed in Las Vegas this weekend, Sharpe forced the victim, whom he was in a relationship with, into intercourse, despite her refusal.

Sharpe Accused of Rape

Sharpe, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, allegedly entered into a consensual relationship with a much younger woman in 2023. The woman, who was referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, was 20 old years at the time.

According to the complaint, Sharpe was very “manipulating and controlling” throughout his relationship with Doe. This allegedly culminated in a violent sexual assault in which Sharpe proceeded to have violent sexual intercourse with Doe, despite her asking for him to stop.

The complaint emphasizes that no means no, even between people in a consensual relationship.

The Former Player Allegedly Threatened Doe

To make matters worse, the complaint further alleges that Sharpe threatened to murder the plaintiff. The former NFL star, who is currently serving as a sports pundit for ESPN and hosts the popular Club Shay Shay podcast, allegedly yelled at Doe while there was a firearm visible in the room.

According to the complaint, Doe was so scared for her life that she tried to share her location with friends from her iPhone. Unfortunately, Sharpe saw her doing this and allegedly grabbed her by the neck, telling her that he would kill her if she ever did something like that again.

The lawsuit seeks $50 million in compensatory and punitive damages.

Sharpe Denied the Accusations

Sharpe, however, denied the accusations, saying that they do not accurately represent reality. The NFL star shared his side of the story in a two-page statement written by his lawyer, Lanny Davis.

In the statement, Sharpe accused Doe of misrepresenting the truth. He backed up his claims with screenshots from their chats in which the plaintiff seemingly asked the football star to “put a dog collar” around her neck and choke her.

According to Sharpe, the lawsuit is nothing more than an attempt on the plaintiff’s side to discredit him and earn millions of dollars.

Earlier this year, the Nevada Supreme Court earlier reaffirmed a lower court ruling which permitted a Backstreet Boys member to proceed with a counter lawsuit targeting a woman who accused him of rape.