Shannon Sharpe Fires Back at Rape Lawsuit, Calls Claims “Blackmail Attempt” and Reveals Explicit Texts
NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN personality Shannon Sharpe is pushing back forcefully against a civil lawsuit filed by Gabriella Zuniga, who accuses him of sexual assault, coercion, and emotional abuse. In a fiery statement released by his attorney, Lanny J. Davis, Sharpe denies all allegations and labels the suit “a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars.”
The lawsuit, which was filed this month in Nevada, alleges a pattern of sexual misconduct and non-consensual behavior throughout a relationship that began in 2023 when Zuniga was 19 years old. But Sharpe’s legal team says the claims are false and part of a calculated blackmail scheme.
To support his defense, Sharpe’s attorney released a series of graphic and explicit text messages allegedly sent by Zuniga, which he claims demonstrate a consensual and sexually charged relationship. The texts, many of which contain graphic sexual requests, suggest that Zuniga was a willing participant and often initiated intimate interactions.
“I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while you’re f***ing me,” Zuniga wrote in one message dated October 7, 2023.
In another, dated January 1, 2025, she allegedly messaged Sharpe saying, “I know u miss this big juicy a*s.. $25k for each cheek.”
Sharpe’s legal team argues that the sexual nature of the relationship continued until January 2, 2025—just one day after that message. The former NFL star believes the entire lawsuit is based on a manipulated and out-of-context video that Zuniga secretly recorded, which she has allegedly refused to turn over in its unedited form.
“We believe the video has been heavily edited and taken entirely out of context, crafted to falsely portray a consensual act as non-consensual,” Davis said in the statement.
Further text messages released by Sharpe’s team include:
“Only if you put that baby gravy in me, then I can do whatever I want to me.” — November 23, 2023
“I wanna put my tongue in your a**hole and then marry u.” — January 12, 2024
“You better crave it cuz ur gonna be stuck with it 4 life after you put a big black baby in me.” — August 11, 2024
Sharpe and his legal counsel claim the edited recording was shown to him as part of an extortion effort led by Zuniga and her attorney, high-profile Texas litigator Tony Buzbee. Davis called the lawsuit “filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations” and stated that Sharpe will not be intimidated or coerced into a settlement.
“Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — especially the gross lie of ‘rape’ — and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail,” the statement continued.
Sharpe, 56, is a former NFL tight end and current sports commentator with a podcast called “Shay Shay.”
