In recent news, NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe faces serious allegations from a second accuser, Michele Bundy Evans, amid an already high-profile $50 million lawsuit filed by a woman identified as Gabriella Zuniga. Evans, who claims she was in a nearly decade-long relationship with Sharpe, filed a $4 million defamation lawsuit against him in New York in December 2023, which has resurfaced in light of the newer accusations. This blog post delves into the details of Evans’ claims, the context of her lawsuit, and the broader implications for Sharpe’s career.
Background of the Allegations
Michele Bundy Evans alleges that in September 2010, following an argument about Sharpe’s alleged infidelity, he sexually assaulted her. According to court documents obtained by various outlets, including The U.S. Sun and Page Six, Evans claims Sharpe “forcefully subdued” her, “compelling [her] to [her] knees and subsequently engaging in non-consensual oral penetration” despite her protests. She further alleges that Sharpe threatened to “make it so no other man would want [her]” and warned that any attempt to report him would lead to her “destruction.” Following the incident, Evans says she faced stalking and harassment, including threats at her home, prompting her to file for a restraining order against Sharpe.
Evans’ lawsuit primarily focuses on defamation, libel, and slander, stemming from Sharpe’s public comments about their legal disputes, including on television and platforms like Instagram Live. She claims these remarks damaged her reputation, particularly after Sharpe referenced a “Michele” in a September 2024 Instagram Live incident, which reportedly escalated tensions with his other accuser, Jane Doe. Evans is seeking $4 million in damages for the alleged defamation and emotional distress caused by Sharpe’s actions.
Context of the Lawsuit
The timing of Evans’ lawsuit resurfacing is notable, as it comes just days after Jane Doe filed a $50 million lawsuit in Nevada on April 20, 2025, accusing Sharpe of rape, battery, and emotional abuse during a nearly two-year relationship. Evans’ claims, originally filed in 2023, gained renewed attention as media outlets and fans on X began drawing parallels between the two cases. Posts on X have highlighted the existence of Evans’ lawsuit predating the Jane Doe case, with some users pointing to “condemning evidence” in her filings.
Evans’ allegations describe a pattern of behavior similar to those in the Jane Doe lawsuit, including claims of control, threats, and sexual assault. In a bombshell interview with the Daily Mail, Evans expressed being “triggered” by Sharpe’s denials of Jane Doe’s accusations, noting that she too felt “doxed” by Sharpe when he publicly discussed their legal history. She dropped her restraining order against him years ago, partly due to this alleged doxing, but her defamation lawsuit remains ongoing.
Sharpe’s legal team has vehemently denied Evans’ claims, calling them “ridiculous” and “completely without merit.” They argue that Evans and Sharpe were in a consensual relationship involving “role-playing” and “fantasy,” and have pointed to her past legal troubles, including a 2017 domestic incident for which she was reportedly on probation, to question her credibility. A judge also denied Evans’ request for an order of protection in the ongoing civil case.
Sharpe’s attorney released the following statement:
It should be of no surprise that when someone famous is in the news, all sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork to share their connection to that person in an attempt to profit from that alleged relationship. In many cases those stories or accusations are nothing more than old news, fanciful exaggerations, or sometimes blatant misrepresentations of fact. They are shared on social media or fed to reporters with intentional factual omissions and no regard for the truth. This is obviously purposeful, designed to create a fabricated narrative. This is exactly what is happening to Shannon Sharpe and the resurrection of the case involving Michele Evans is a perfect example. Sadly, Ms. Evans became obsessed with Shannon and decided to manufacture a claim against him. When she could not find a lawyer to pursue her outrageous story, she filed a civil complaint on her own that is completely devoid of merit. The fact is that Shannon has had no contact with this person for many years and it is our understanding that she is still on probation after serving 3 years in prison for trying to kill her husband so that she could hopefully pursue a relationship with Shannon.
Following in Ms. Evan’s footsteps, Gabi a/k/a Karli is the latest person trying to exploit her connection with Shannon. From the onset, Shannon has been crystal clear about the nature of his relationship with Gabi Zuniga. For the sake of clarity, please allow me to repeat his position. Shannon and Gabi engaged in a consensual sexual relationship over a 2-year period. When she learned that he would not father a child with her, she resorted to extortion. While Shannon was willing to pay her a substantial amount of money to avoid the intimate details of his personal life from being exposed, as many high-profile individuals often do when they are being threatened, that is no longer the case. This is a shakedown, pure and simple and we have the evidence to prove it. And while there are certainly real victims of sexual assault whose stories deserve to be told; Gabi is not one of them and her attempt to extort Shannon with her false claims only serves to distract from the attention that real abuse victims deserve.
Bottom line, Shannon has done nothing wrong and intends to fight back against these malicious lies not with manufactured defenses or imaginary stories but with documentary proof and real evidence. He intends to pursue claims against Gabi and all who have assisted her with the dissemination of her fabricated story. Shannon looks forward to his day in court where he can hold Gabi and all who are working in concert with her accountable for the opportunists that they are.
For the avoidance of any doubt, Shannon Sharpe was not terminated by ESPN, but he has elected to step away for a temporary period of time from his duties so that he can focus on his family and the frivolous claim filed against him. ESPN agreed with his decision and Shannon plans to return to his role at ESPN for the NFL season.
Flip the pages for photos of Evans.
