NFL Hall of Famer and popular ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe is facing serious legal trouble after a civil lawsuit was filed against him in Clark County, Nevada, on Sunday. The plaintiff, listed as “Jane Doe” to protect her identity, alleges that Sharpe sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions during a relationship that spanned nearly two years, beginning in 2023 when she was 19 and Sharpe was 56.
According to court documents, the woman accuses Sharpe of maintaining control over her time, body, and decisions throughout the relationship. The complaint specifically details two alleged sexual assaults: one in October 2024 and another in January 2025, both of which allegedly occurred in Las Vegas. In both incidents, Doe claims Sharpe ignored her verbal requests to stop.
Adding to the severity of the allegations, the lawsuit also accuses Sharpe of secretly recording their sexual encounters and distributing the footage without her permission. One particularly damaging claim references an incident in 2024 when Sharpe accidentally livestreamed a sexual act on Instagram — an event that allegedly caused emotional distress and contributed to the eventual breakdown of their relationship.
Shannon Sharpe accidentally went live on IG while getting freaky 😭😭https://t.co/R98DwkZrrF
— ryan 🤿 (@scubaryan_) September 11, 2024
Jane Doe is being represented by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee. In a public statement, Buzbee praised his client’s courage:
“It takes a great deal of strength to stand up against individuals with power, influence, and resources. We are committed to seeking justice on her behalf.”
At this time, Sharpe has not issued any public response to the lawsuit. He appeared on ESPN’s First Take as scheduled Monday morning, without any reference to the allegations during the broadcast.
No criminal charges have been filed in the case. The lawsuit remains a civil matter and will proceed through the court system to determine whether Sharpe is liable and, if so, the amount of damages owed to the plaintiff.
The new allegations come as Sharpe has faced increased public scrutiny in recent years. In 2023, his Los Angeles home was burglarized, with thieves reportedly stealing over $1 million worth of valuables. He also drew headlines for the widely shared Instagram Live incident mentioned in the lawsuit.
