The relationship between Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL star and sports commentator, and Gabriella “Gabi” Zuniga, an OnlyFans content creator, has taken a dark turn, evolving from a consensual arrangement into a disturbing case involving allegations of blackmail and non-consensual recording. Below is a detailed chronology of the events based on available information, shedding light on the complexities and legal issues that have emerged.
Fall 2022: The Beginning
Shannon Sharpe and Gabriella “Gabi” Zuniga met at an Equinox gym in Los Angeles. Shortly after, they entered into a consensual sexual relationship. Sharpe was fully aware of Zuniga’s work on OnlyFans, where she earned significant income selling explicit videos, including enough to purchase a Porsche. Their relationship was strictly physical, with no traditional “dates” or emotional exclusivity.
March 2023: Escalating Preferences
Zuniga began introducing specific requests into their encounters. She asked Sharpe to use handcuffs during their sexual activities, marking the start of her expressed interest in bondage-related practices. These requests were consensual, and their relationship continued without reported issues at this stage.
October 2023: Explicit Requests Intensify
In a text message, Zuniga explicitly asked Sharpe to engage in more intense acts, including choking her with a dog collar during sex. The message, sent on October 9, 2023, at 6:40 PM (UTC-7), read:
I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while f*cking.
This marked a further escalation in her preferences, which Sharpe reportedly accommodated within the bounds of their consensual arrangement.
June 2024: Sharpe Relocates
Sharpe moved to Las Vegas, potentially creating physical distance in the relationship. Despite this, their interactions continued, though the nature of their communication suggests the relationship remained non-exclusive and primarily physical. This is where things get interesting. Zuniga, without Sharpe’s knowledge, decided to follow him to Vegas and get an apartment on her own. According to Sharpe’s attorneys Zuniga began to pressure Sharpe into getting her pregnant.
August 2024: Zuniga’s Bold Claim
On August 11, 2024, at 9:30 PM (UTC-7), Zuniga sent Sharpe a provocative text:
“that’s my daddy f*ck I want u to put a big black baby in me”
This message and earlier texts indicate Zuniga’s increasingly forward and explicit communication. Around this time, she also reportedly expressed a desire for Sharpe to “crave” their dynamic, hinting at a possessiveness that contrasted with their non-exclusive arrangement.
Fall 2024: Demands for Payment
Zuniga’s behavior shifted dramatically as she began demanding payment for their sexual encounters. This marked a significant change in the relationship, introducing a transactional element that had not previously existed. Sharpe’s response to these demands is unclear, but this development set the stage for further conflict.
Late November 2024: Zuniga’s Houston Trip
Zuniga informed Sharpe that she was in Houston for a few weeks. Notably, Houston is the base of operations for Tony Buzbee, a prominent Texas personal injury lawyer who would later represent Zuniga. This trip may have been a precursor to the legal strategy that unfolded.
January 2025: Extortion and Blackmail
In early January 2025, Zuniga escalated her demands, texting Sharpe on January 1st to request $25,000 “for each cheek,” accompanied by a selfie of her buttocks. The message suggested she believed Sharpe was either unwilling to pay or involved with someone else, stating:
On January 2, 2025, Zuniga and Sharpe had sex at her apartment. Unbeknownst to Sharpe, Zuniga secretly recorded the encounter without his consent. She then used this illicitly obtained video as leverage, threatening to release it unless Sharpe paid her.
January 2025: Legal Maneuvers with Tony Buzbee
Zuniga enlisted Tony Buzbee as her attorney. Together, they allegedly blackmailed Sharpe, demanding payment to prevent the release of the unauthorized video. This move transformed their personal disputes into a legal battle, with Zuniga leveraging the non-consensual recording as the basis for her claims.
Conclusion
What began as a consensual, albeit unconventional, relationship between Shannon Sharpe and Gabriella Zuniga has spiraled into a serious legal and ethical controversy. Zuniga’s alleged actions—secretly recording a private encounter and using it for blackmail—raise significant questions about consent, privacy, and exploitation. As this case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of the complexities that can arise in modern relationships, particularly when trust is violated, and legal boundaries are crossed.
Flip the pages for photos of the Zuniga.
