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Shannon Sharpe has been accused of rape and battery in a new $50 million lawsuit.
The NFL player-turned-broadcaster was sued in Nevada on Sunday for allegedly raping a woman referred to as Jane Doe on numerous occasions. However, Sharpe has denied the claims Monday.
The alleged victim claimed in court documents obtained by Page Six that Sharpe, 56, sexually assaulted her multiple times at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025.
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The plaintiff alleged that the assaults took place after a “rocky,” years-long abusive relationship with the sports commentator.
Sharpe and Doe met at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when she was 20 years old and he was in his mid-50s, according to the filing.
Doe claimed the “Club Shay Shay” host told her during the encounter that he would “buy her fake t-ts” if she won a weight-loss competition with him.
He then allegedly went on to aggressively pursue her by calling, texting and “demanding she come to his Beverly Glen mansion.”
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The duo eventually began a consensual relationship, though Doe claimed Sharpe was controlling and verbally abusive.
“He demanded complete control over her time and body, expecting her to be at his house on his schedule, at his command, whenever he called,” attorneyTony Buzbeewrote in the documents.
Doe became frightened when they allegedly got into an explosive argument while the former football player visibly had a firearm in the room.
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“Plaintiff tried sharing her location with friends from her iPhone — just in case,” the filing stated. “But Sharpe saw her doing this. The moment he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and told her, ‘If you ever do that again, I will f–king kill you.'”
Doe said she“began to pull away from Sharpe” after he was heard having sex on Instagram Live last September, but she claimed her attempt to break up with him led to him raping her.
She alleged that the first time he raped her was in October when he forced himself on her as she was “crying and sobbing.”
The second sexual assault allegedly happened in January when he came over to her house under the guise that he was giving her a Christmas gift, only to rape her again.
Sharpe denied Doe’s accusations in a statement provided to Page Six by his legal team Monday.
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“Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct – especially the gross lie of ‘rape’ — and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail,” Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny J. Davis, said in the statement. “He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law.”
Doe is seeking $50 million in damages from the Hall of Fame tight end, who recently made headlines for eyeing a $100 million-plus podcast contract.
“I’m extremely proud to represent Jane Doe,” Buzbee said in a statement to Page Six. “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against those with power, fame and money. I look forward to pressing this case in court.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues in this story, call the Sexual Assault Hotline at1-800-330-0226.
