Former NFL star and “Club Shay Shay” podcast host faces serious allegations from a 21-year-old woman claiming violent sexual assault, non-consensual recordings, and repeated misconduct over a nearly two-year relationship.
📍Las Vegas | April 21, 2025
Shannon Sharpe, the former NFL Hall of Famer turned media personality, has been hit with a $50 million civil lawsuit filed in Nevada state court. The lawsuit, filed on Sunday by a woman identified as Jane Doe, alleges violent sexual assault, anal rape, and the unauthorized sharing of intimate videos during a nearly two-year relationship that began in 2023 when the woman was just 19 years old.
The suit is being handled by attorney Tony Buzbee, who is currently representing over 150 alleged victims in the ongoing cases involving Sean “Diddy” Combs.
🧾 Allegations in the Lawsuit
According to the complaint:
- Sharpe met the plaintiff at a gym in 2023 and began what she described as a “rocky consensual relationship.”
- By late 2024, he allegedly insisted on filming their sexual encounters, sometimes sharing the videos without her consent or knowledge.
- The lawsuit highlights an October 2024 incident in Las Vegas, where Sharpe allegedly violently sexually assaulted and anally raped the plaintiff twice, ignoring her repeated pleas to stop.
- A similar alleged assault occurred in January 2025, prompting the plaintiff to flee Nevada.
- Doe is now seeking compensatory and punitive damages totaling $50 million.
📱 Past Controversies Resurface
The allegations reference a widely publicized incident in 2024 where Sharpe appeared to be engaged in sexual activity while live-streaming on Instagram Live — only audio was heard, but it sparked significant backlash.
Sharpe initially claimed he was hacked, but later accepted responsibility and apologized on his podcast, Nightcap, which he co-hosts with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Gilbert Arenas.
🎙️ Career Background
Sharpe is a celebrated figure in football, known for his years as a tight end with the Denver Broncos, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
After retiring, Sharpe transitioned into sports broadcasting with CBS Sports and Fox Sports, and found new success with his podcast “Club Shay Shay”, launched in 2020. In 2023, he began hosting Nightcap and was reportedly negotiating a $100 million podcast deal.
🔇 No Immediate Response
Representatives for Shannon Sharpe have not issued a public statement and did not respond to Variety’s request for comment at the time of publication.
📌 Tags:
Shannon Sharpe, Club Shay Shay, Tony Buzbee, sexual assault lawsuit, NFL, Las Vegas, podcasting, Diddy case, Nightcap podcast, Jane Doe, legal news, sports media, Shannon Sharpe controversy