Each attorneys for Shannon Sharpe and his rape accuser verify the First Take co-host earlier this yr supplied to pay $10 million to make the allegations go away, but the previous NFL participant additionally says immediately the entire thing is simply “a shakedown.”
Maybe, but it surely additionally appears to be a contradiction in phrases – to place it politely.
In a particularly graphic lawsuit filed in Nevada on April 20, Jane Doe claims the 56-year-old Sharpe sexually assaulted her on a number of events throughout a relationship that they had that began in an LA gymnasium in 2023. Alleging assault, sexual assault, battery and sexual battery, in addition to intentional infliction of emotional misery, the plaintiff is represented by Houston-based Tony Buzbee, who’s behind dozens of assault and abuse lawsuits towards Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Asking for a jury trial, the Jane Doe is searching for $50 million in damages.
No stranger to controversy himself, and at the moment in a bitter battle with Jay-Z over a now dismissed rape case involving the ’99 Issues’ rapper and Combs, Buzbee took to social media Tuesday to get very particular on his consumer’s behalf as NFL vet Sharpe and his staff attacked her credibility.
“On the one hand Mr. Sharpe and his attorneys declare that the case filed by Jane Doe is meritless, but however they now have disclosed that Mr. Sharpe supplied Jane Doe $10 million in writing to not file her lawsuit,” Buzbee mentioned on Instagram this afternoon. “That may be a true assertion. Jane Doe was in actual fact supplied $10 million to settle however rejected that supply, selecting as an alternative to proceed with litigation. Sharpe’s staff is now attempting to discredit and dox her. Sharpe and his staff are actually, as anticipated, additionally attacking me. We’re not going to be deterred by these ways.”
Sharpe and his staff have denied the allegations and asserted that incidents of rape, choking and extra within the 13-page civil swimsuit are being taken out of context and have been consensual. To that, in addition they shattered a rule of such sexual violence instances and blatantly revealed the Jane Doe’s actual title on-line.
Stating Sharpe was “emphatic” in declaring his innocence, Stephen A. Smith mentioned this morning on his personal present of what’s being alleged of his good friend and colleague “is a tragic state of affairs.” Earlier than the $10 million determine got here out, First Take host and producer Smith additionally revealed that he had spoken to ESPN boss (and future Disney CEO contender) Jimmy Pitaro in regards to the Sharpe state of affairs and the exec instructed him they “are taking this matter very severely and we’re trying into this very rigorously.”
Moreover, earlier than his legal professional Lanny Davis gave a digital press convention of his personal Tuesday decrying the swimsuit, Sharpe posted a video on-line this morning the place he mentioned that Buzbee was “focusing on Black males” in reference to the much-accused Combs and Jay-Z. Not addressing the swimsuit on First Take immediately and calling out Buzbee for attempting to “manipulate the media,” Sharpe additionally mentioned in his video that he could be suing the Texas lawyer and the accuser (who seems on subscription service OnlyFans) for defamation within the close to future.
Noticeably, whereas stressing “my profession is all about actual speak and honesty,” ESPN and Membership Shay Shay host Sharpe mentioned nothing about that $10 million supply in his quick video.
Sharpe’s spin grasp lawyer Davis, nonetheless, did say later within the day that Sharpe had been aiming to pay out “at the very least $10 million” for Jane Doe’s silence.
Calling the precise lawsuit from the state of Sin Metropolis a “massive shock” after talks with the accuser and Buzbee, ex-Invoice Clinton confidante Davis pointed to the timing of the motion and a greater than $100 million new contract Sharpe is more likely to be inking now his take care of The Quantity podcast community has expired. Davis mentioned “in my view that it is a basic definition of blackmail. That offers the best leverage to blackmail.” These remarks comply with specific messages allegedly despatched by Doe that Davis made public on Monday for instance “a transparent image” of a “consensual, grownup relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy situations explicitly requested” by the plaintiff.
Declaring that Sharpe “has chosen to mislead his attorneys and the general public” in his denials, Buzbee late Monday put out a protracted assertion predating Davis’ digital press convention immediately.
With out naming a determine on the time on that potential $10 million settlement Buzbee famous yesterday: “Slightly historical past: Again in early February, our workplace contacted Mr. Sharpe on behalf of Jane Doe and broached the topic of a gathering. A number of conversations befell. In the end, a mediation occurred. Mr. Sharpe was represented by completely different attorneys in that mediation. That mediation course of went on for greater than six weeks, finally resulting in Mr. Sharpe making an extremely important supply to settle. In the end, Jane Doe refused the hefty sum supplied by Sharpe and as an alternative filed this case final evening, April 20, 2025.”
“Mr. Sharpe’s aggressive strategy will as an alternative have the alternative impact. Ms. Doe shouldn’t be afraid of the reality — she depends upon it,” Buzbee added. “I sit up for presenting the proof on this case by the judicial course of, the place the reality issues greater than a sports activities icon’s determined public spin.”
Representatives for ESPN-owner Disney didn’t reply to request for touch upon Sharpe and the allegation towards him. Whereas not named as a defendant, Sharpe makes quite a few appearances in a sexual battery and retaliation swimsuit towards his former Undisputed co-host Skip Bayless and Fox Sports activities that an ex-hairdresser on the now cancelled present filed in January.
