NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe took to X to share a video addressing a $50 million civil lawsuit filed against him by his former girlfriend, Gabriella Zuniga, represented by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee. In the video, Sharpe vehemently denies allegations of sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress, labeling the lawsuit a “blatant attempt at blackmail.” He further announced his intention to countersue Zuniga and Buzbee for defamation, accusing them of damaging his reputation with false claims.
The lawsuit, filed on April 20, 2025, in Nevada state court, alleges that Sharpe engaged in a pattern of abusive behavior during a nearly two-year relationship with Zuniga, starting in 2023 when she was 19 and Sharpe was 56. Zuniga claims the relationship, initially consensual, turned coercive, with Sharpe allegedly demanding control over her schedule and body. The complaint details two alleged sexual assaults in October 2024 and January 2025, as well as unauthorized recording and sharing of intimate videos. Zuniga also references a September 2024 incident where Sharpe accidentally livestreamed sexual activity on Instagram, which she says humiliated her, though she was not involved.
Tony Buzbee, known for representing clients in high-profile cases against figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs and Deshaun Watson, 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.” The lawsuit seeks over $50 million in damages.
In his X video, Sharpe, supported by his attorney Lanny J. Davis, dismisses the allegations as a calculated “shakedown” timed to exploit his rumored $100 million podcast deal with The Volume network. He accuses Zuniga of presenting a “heavily edited” video of a consensual encounter to extort him, claiming she has refused to provide the unedited footage. Sharpe’s team has released explicit text messages allegedly sent by Zuniga, including one from January 1, 2025, stating, “I know u miss this big juicy ass…$25k for each cheek,” to argue the relationship was consensual and involved mutual sexual roleplay.
Sharpe’s announcement to sue for defamation centers on the claim that Zuniga and Buzbee’s public accusations have harmed his reputation and career. His legal team argues that the lawsuit’s narrative of abuse and assault is “filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations,” designed to tarnish his image as a respected ESPN personality and host of Club Shay Shay and Nightcap. They point to Buzbee’s history of high-profile cases, suggesting he is orchestrating a smear campaign for financial gain.
Apparently Buzbee will release a 30 second clip to try to frame Sharpe as guilty, but the public wants to see the full unedited version.
Flip the pages for Shannon’s statement and the freaky texts.
