Former NFL star Shannon Sharpe was sued for allegedly raping a woman on multiple occasions, according to new court documents.
The lawsuit, obtained by TMZ Sports, was filed by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee for “Jane Doe” on Sunday in Nevada. Doe claims the popular podcaster sexually assaulted her several times at the end of 2024 and the start of 2025.
She is seeking $50 million in punitive damages.
Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny J. Davis responded to the allegations in a statement on behalf of his client on Monday.
Davis shared dozens of sexually graphic text messages exchanged by Gabriella Zuniga and Sharpe.
“I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while you’re f***ing me,” she allegedly wrote in one text on October 7, 2023.
“I know u miss this big juicy a*s… $25k for each cheek,” she wrote in another text message to Sharpe on January 1, 2025. She attached a partially nude photo of herself.
“Only if you put that baby gravy in me, then I can do whatever I want to me.”
— Text from Gabriella Zuniga to Shannon Sharpe, November 23, 2023.
“I wanna put my tongue in your a**hole and then marry u.”
— Text from Gabriella Zuniga to Shannon Sharpe, January 12, 2024.
“That’s my daddy f*** I want u to put a big black baby in me.”
— Text from Gabriella Zuniga to Shannon Sharpe, August 6, 2024.
“You better crave it cuz ur gonna be stuck with it 4 life after you put a big black baby in me.”
— Text from Gabriella Zuniga to Shannon Sharpe, August 11, 2024.
Davis wrote: “This lawsuit, filed by Gabriella Zuniga and orchestrated by her attorney Tony Buzbee, is a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars. It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed.
In her effort to extract a large financial settlement, Ms. Zuniga presented Mr. Sharpe with a secretly recorded video of a consensual sexual encounter. We believe the video has been heavily edited and taken entirely out of context, crafted to falsely portray a consensual act as non-consensual. Ms. Zuniga has refused to provide a copy of the full, unedited version of the recording to Mr. Sharpe’s legal team.
“To set the record straight, we are releasing several of Ms. Zuniga’s own explicit text messages to Mr. Sharpe that clearly indicate the nature of their relationship was consensual and sexual in nature — and, in many cases, initiated by her with specific and graphic requests.
“Contrary to the allegations she makes in her lawsuit, consensual sex continued until January 2, 2025 – the day after she asked for ‘$25,000 per cheek,’ as quoted above from her text message to Mr. Sharpe.”
Davis continued: “These messages are just a sampling of a broader pattern of graphic, sexual communications initiated by Ms. Zuniga. The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested by Ms. Zuniga.”
He concluded: “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. He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law.”
