Las Vegas, Nevada – A former NFL star, Shannon Sharpe, is facing serious allegations of assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery in a lawsuit filed by an anonymous woman and her legal team. The lawsuit, filed in a district court in Las Vegas, accuses Sharpe, the host of the popular “Club Shay Shay” podcast, of manipulating and controlling the plaintiff during a nearly two-year period that began in 2023 when the woman was 20 years old.
The civil complaint against Sharpe, who is 56 years old, alleges that he violently sexually assaulted and anally raped the plaintiff in Las Vegas in October 2024 and again in January of this year, despite the woman’s pleas for him to stop. The lawsuit claims that Sharpe, who is more than thirty years older than the plaintiff, repeatedly threatened her and refused to accept her refusal, leading to non-consensual sexual acts.
Attorney for the plaintiff, Tony Buzbee, stated that Jane Doe’s courage in coming forward against someone with power, fame, and money should be acknowledged. Buzbee expressed his commitment to pursuing the case in court. On the other hand, Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny J. Davis, denied the allegations, referring to the relationship between Sharpe and the plaintiff as consensual and initiated by the woman with specific requests.
Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who was inducted in 2011, enjoyed a successful career with the Denver Broncos and the Baltimore Ravens, winning multiple Super Bowl titles. The lawsuit is seeking compensatory and punitive damages upwards of $50 million as the legal battle between the two parties unfolds in court. The serious nature of the allegations against the former NFL star has cast a shadow over his legacy and raised questions about the dynamics of power and consent in such high-profile cases.