Shannon Sharpe Battling Multiple Rape Allegations As Unnamed Woman Demands $50 Million

Shannon Sharpe's name is once again connected to controversy seven months after his Instagram Live incident.

The former professional football tight end recently became embroiled in a scathing lawsuit filed by an anonymous accuser. The woman, going by Jane Doe, alleged she was in an abusive relationship with the media personality.

Shannon Sharpe's accuser claimed he was not only controlling and verbally abusive but also a rapist. The allegations follow last year's shocking Instagram Live incident that saw the NFL superstar accidentally broadcasting his bedroom activity with an unidentified woman.

Sharpe's sexual assault drama was filed on Sunday in Nevada, with popular attorney Tony Buzbee representing the alleged victim. The woman claimed she was stuck in a years-long traumatic relationship with the former athlete, whom she first met at a Los Angeles gym in 2023.

She noted she was 20 at the time while Sharpe was in his mid-50s. During their first meeting, the former Denver Broncos player allegedly promised to buy the woman "fake t-ts" if she won a weight-loss competition with him.

His bizarre flirting soon turned aggressive, with the alleged victim claiming he hounded her relentlessly with calls and texts. Sharpe allegedly wanted her to visit his Beverly Glen mansion and didn't stop pursuing her until she eventually caved.

The woman noted they entered a consensual relationship; however, she stressed it was controlling and verbally abusive. Her attorney, Buzbee, emphasized her claims in the suit, per TMZ, writing:

"He demanded complete control over her time and body, expecting her to be at his house on his schedule, at his command, whenever he called."

The lawsuit painted Sharpe as a villain, implying he went off the rails without fear of consequences. His accuser recalled one of his allegedly violent incidents, claiming he had yelled at her while a firearm was visible in the room.

"Plaintiff tried sharing her location with friends from her iPhone just in case. But Sharpe saw her doing this. The moment he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and told her, 'If you ever do that again, I will f-cking kill you,'" the documents claimed.

Despite these terrifying encounters, the woman stayed with Sharpe even after they both relocated to Nevada in the summer of 2024. However, she finally attempted to break things off after the Pro Football Hall of Fame honoree faced backlash in September 2024 for having sex on Instagram Live.

Sharpe's accuser claimed her situation worsened after she tried to leave the media personality. He alleged he brutally assaulted her in October 2024 in her apartment, forcing himself on her "while she was crying and sobbing."

The alleged second rape incident occurred months later, in January 2025, with Sharpe allegedly visiting her apartment under the guise of giving her Christmas and birthday gifts. Instead, she claimed he violently assaulted her.

Based on these alleged incidents and her years-long abusive relationship with Sharpe, the woman wants over $50 million in compensation. Her attorney, Buzbee, applauded her stance in a statement after filing the suit, saying:

"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."

As stated, the sexual assault lawsuit comes seven months after Sharpe faced backlash for accidentally broadcasting his bedroom activity on Instagram Live. The Blast covered his response to the controversial incident, reporting he initially claimed his account was hacked before taking responsibility.

"Obviously, I am embarrassed. [I'm] someone that is extremely, extremely private, and to have one of your most intimate details, the audio heard for the entire world to hear, I'm embarrassed for a number of reasons," Sharpe explained before continuing in third-person, noting:

"People count on Shannon. Shay Shay media … ESPN, there are a lot of people that count on him at all times. Even when I'm behind closed doors, I still try to remain a level of professional."

"Although I'm in the privacy of my own home, and I'm very disappointed in myself, not for the act — there are millions and billions of consenting adults that engage in activities," Sharpe added.

Sharpe stressed the incident was not "staged," arguing that he did not understand how to use Instagram Live. "I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity. I did not know IG Live. I've never turned IG live on, so I don't know how it works, and all of a sudden, my other phone started going off," he claimed.

Many called BS on his explanation, noting the process involved in using Instagram Live featured too many steps for it to be an accident. Although the incident did not capture anything explicit on video, it went viral on X because the audio perfectly captured Sharpe having sex with an unidentified woman.

Someone claimed the former athlete intentionally broadcast the incident for clout, with another agreeing, noting, "How do you accidentally go live while getting with your lady?"

The comments continued with a third labeling Sharpe an "old a-s" who tried to film an explicit movie but couldn't figure out how the technology worked and went Live.

How will Shannon Sharpe respond to the sexual assault lawsuit?