NFL Hall of Famer and current media personality Shannon Sharpe is facing a $50 million civil lawsuit filed in Nevada state court. The plaintiff, identified as “Jane Doe,” alleges that Sharpe sexually assaulted her multiple times during a nearly two-year relationship that began in 2023 when she was 19 and he was 56. The lawsuit, filed on April 20, 2025, is being led by prominent Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, known for representing clients in high-profile sexual misconduct cases, including those against Deshaun Watson and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

According to court documents, the relationship between Sharpe and the plaintiff was initially consensual but became abusive over time. The plaintiff alleges that Sharpe manipulated and controlled her, threatened physical violence, and ignored her refusals during the alleged assaults. She also claims that Sharpe recorded their sexual encounters without her consent and shared the footage with others.

The lawsuit references a September 2024 incident in which Sharpe accidentally livestreamed himself having sex with another woman on Instagram, which reportedly further distressed the plaintiff. After this incident, the plaintiff alleges that Sharpe continued to pursue her, culminating in two alleged instances of violent sexual assault in Las Vegas in October 2024 and another in January 2025.

Sharpe has denied all allegations through his attorney, Lanny J. Davis, who called the lawsuit a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars.” Davis stated that the lawsuit is “filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations” and that Sharpe “categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct—especially the gross lie of ‘rape.'”

Tony Buzbee, representing the plaintiff, stated, “It takes a great deal of courage to stand up against those with power, fame, and money. I look forward to pressing this case in court.”​

Sharpe, a three-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, is currently a sports commentator and host of the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. He has not been criminally charged in connection with the allegations.​

The case is expected to proceed through the Nevada civil court system in the coming months.​