Shannon Sharpe Denies Allegations Amid $50 Million Lawsuit; Text Message Emerges
NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe is facing a $50 million civil lawsuit filed earlier this week by a woman accusing him of rape and assault. The woman is being represented by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee, who has also led lawsuits against music mogul Diddy and previously against Jay-Z.
Sharpe has firmly denied the allegations through his attorney, Lanny J. Davis, who issued a strong statement dismissing the claims. “This is a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars,” Davis stated. “It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations—and it will not succeed. He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court.”
As the case unfolds, new developments have surfaced. TMZ obtained what appears to be a text message sent by the plaintiff to Sharpe on the day of the alleged incident. In the message, the woman expresses emotional distress and references consent. “I cried when u left because I begged you to put a condom on and not put it in my a** and u didn’t listen. I don’t care what our history is, no means no shannon,” the message reads. “Idk how to process this.”
The message reportedly prompted a reply from Sharpe, in which he asked if he could call her. It remains unclear whether that phone call took place.
In a video statement released by Sharpe shortly after the lawsuit became public, the former Denver Broncos star once again proclaimed his innocence. He also accused Buzbee of potentially planning to release an edited portion of a video to damage his reputation.
“There’s supposedly a video that’s about 10 minutes long,” Sharpe said. “If any of it gets released, I demand that the entire version be made public—not just a piece that tries to make me look guilty. I don’t have the video, or I would release it myself.”
The lawsuit and its emerging details have captured national attention, as both legal teams prepare for what could become a highly publicized and contentious court battle. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed in connection to the allegations.
