Former NFL player Shannon Sharpe accused of rape in $50M US civil lawsuit
A civil lawsuit seeking $50 million in damages has been filed against retired NFL player Shannon Sharpe by a young woman who alleges that she was raped and threatened by him during what she describes as a “rocky consensual relationship.” The lawsuit was filed in Clark County, Nevada, by a woman identified as Jane Doe. According to court documents, the woman first met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when she was 20 years old, leading to a nearly two-year relationship. The lawsuit accuses Sharpe, who is now 56, of raping the woman in October 2024 and again in January of the following year.
In response to the allegations, Sharpe’s lawyer released a statement on his behalf stating that the relationship was consensual and characterizing the lawsuit as a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” Sharpe for millions of dollars. The statement, posted by Sharpe, denounces the lawsuit as being filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations.
The lawsuit further alleges that Sharpe became increasingly verbally abusive, controlling, and violent over time, even threatening to kill the woman and recording their sexual encounters without her consent. The complaint describes instances where Sharpe flew into fits of anger when confronted about infidelity or other activities, and even managed to gain unauthorized access to the woman’s apartment complex.
Sharpe, a four-time All-Pro tight end who played on three Super Bowl-winning teams over 14 seasons from 1990 to 2003, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. He retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions, yards receiving, and touchdowns, though those records have since been surpassed.
Since retiring from football, Sharpe has maintained a presence in the media, appearing on various TV shows and social media platforms. He departed from FS1’s “Undisputed” in 2023 and later joined ESPN. Despite the allegations made against him in the lawsuit, Sharpe continues to deny any wrongdoing and has vowed to defend himself against the accusations.
