Shannon Sharpe has responded to the sexual assault lawsuit filed towards him on Monday.
A girl claiming to be the previous tight finish’s girlfriend sued him for $50 million for alleged assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery.
The girl, referred to within the go well with as Jane Doe, additionally claimed that Sharpe deliberately filmed them having intercourse with out her data, including that he brought on her emotional misery.
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Shannon Sharpe’s Authorized Staff’s Response To Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Quickly after information of the lawsuit towards him made headlines, Sharpe shared a statement from his authorized counsel, Lanny J. Davis, on social media.
Within the assertion, Davis revealed the girl’s identification as Gabriella Zuniga and shared textual content messages she despatched to Sharpe.
One textual content message Zuniga allegedly despatched on October 7, 2023, learn, “I need you to place a canine collar round my neck and choke me with it whilst you’re f-cking me.”
One other textual content she allegedly despatched on January 1, 2025, learn, “I do know u miss this juicy a–…$25k for every cheek.”
Davis fired again at Zuniga and her lawyer, Tony Buzbee. He mentioned, “This lawsuit, filed by Gabriella Zuniga and orchestrated by her lawyer Tony Buzbee, is a blatant and cynical try to shake down Mr. Sharpe for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.”
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He continued, “It’s crammed with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it’ll not succeed.”
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Shannon Sharpe Accuses Gabriella Zuniga Of Allegedly Modifying Video
Davis additionally mentioned, “In her effort to extract a big monetary settlement, Ms. Zuniga offered Mr. Sharpe with a secretly recorded video of a consensual sexual encounter.”
Sharpe’s authorized counsel claimed Zuniga’s video was “closely edited and brought fully out of context,” including that it was “crafted to painting a consensual act as non-consensual.”
In line with Davis, Sharpe’s accuser “has refused to supply a duplicate of the complete, unedited model of the recording” to the ex-footballer’s authorized crew.
He continued, “To set the report straight, we’re releasing a number of of Ms. Zuniga’s personal express textual content messages to Mr. Sharpe that clearly point out the character of their relationship was consensual and sexual in nature — and, in lots of instances, initiated by her with particular and graphic requests.”
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Sharpe’s crew claimed he and Zuniga continued having consensual intercourse till January 2, 2025, “the day after she requested for ‘$25,000 per cheek'” within the textual content message she despatched to him.
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Shannon Sharpes’ Authorized Staff Shares Extra Proof

Davis shared a number of alleged textual content messages from Zuniga to Sharpe. Within the messages, she allegedly made sexual advances at him and expressed her want for him to get her pregnant.
Sharpe’s authorized counsel continued, “These messages are only a sampling of a broader sample of graphic, sexual communications initiated by Ms. Zuniga. The proof paints a transparent image: this was a consensual, grownup relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy eventualities explicitly requested by Ms. Zuniga.”
Davis harassed that Zuniga’s allegedly recorded and edited tape tried to indicate that her sexual encounters together with his shopper weren’t consensual. He added, “However Mr. Sharpe now believes her secret taping was all a part of her deliberate set-up as a part of her blackmail scheme, as distorted by her edited tape, a duplicate of which she refused to make out there to Mr. Sharpe or his counsel.”
Sharpe’s lawyer concluded by denying any wrongdoing by his shopper. He mentioned, “Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — particularly the gross lie of “rape” — and won’t undergo what he sees as an egregious try of blackmail.”
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The assertion ended, “He stands firmly by the reality and is ready to struggle these false claims vigorously in courtroom. He appears ahead to vindication by means of due course of and a judgment based mostly on the details and the legislation.”
The Sexual Assault Lawsuit Towards Sharpe
Earlier on Monday, Shannon Sharpe got here underneath fireplace following critical allegations from an nameless lady, recognized as Jane Doe, who filed a lawsuit in Nevada.
Represented by high-profile lawyer Tony Buzbee, the accuser claimed she met Sharpe at a Los Angeles health club in 2023 when she was 20 and he was in his mid-50s.
In line with the lawsuit, Sharpe supplied to purchase her breast implants if she gained a weight-loss problem. What started as flirtation allegedly changed into a controlling and verbally abusive relationship.
The accuser, by means of Buzbee, claimed Sharpe demanded complete management over her schedule, stating per TMZ, “He demanded full management over her time and physique, anticipating her to be at his home on his schedule, at his command, at any time when he known as.”
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She described a threatening encounter the place Sharpe allegedly noticed her sharing her location through iPhone.
The go well with learn, “The second he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and advised her, ‘In the event you ever do this once more, I’ll f-cking kill you.'”
Rape Allegations Floor After Breakup Try

The girl claimed she tried to finish her relationship with Shannon Sharpe after his controversial Instagram Reside incident in 2024, the place he was seen participating in sexual exercise.
She additionally claimed that Sharpe raped her twice, the primary in October 2024 whereas she was “crying and sobbing,” and once more in January 2025 underneath the pretense of delivering presents.
In search of over $50 million in damages, her lawyer, Buzbee, mentioned, “It takes quite a lot of braveness to face up towards these with energy, fame, and cash. I stay up for urgent this case in courtroom.”