ESPN panellist Shannon Sharpe has responded to the recent sexual assault allegations made by an anonymous woman.
The NFL legend has been accused of multiple counts of battery and sexual assault during a two-year relationship with the alleged victim.
The plaintiff, who is identified only as “Jane Doe” in the court filings, claims that her relationship with Sharpe began in 2023 on consensual terms when she was 20 years old.
The lawsuit was filed in a Las Vegas district court on Sunday, in which the 56-year-old “violently sexually assaulted” his accuser.
The woman is represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who is also representing more than 50 plaintiffs in the upcoming sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The $50 million lawsuit alleges that “Shannon Sharpe isn’t just a sports icon — he’s something far worse. He is a flawed, narcissistic individual who has spent years using his fame, power and influence to manipulate, control, subjugate and violate women."
Shortly after the lawsuit became public, Sharpe’s legal team posted their statement on X, formerly Twitter, on his personal account.
The statement by Sharpe’s counsel, Lanny J. Davis, mentions the real name of the plaintiff and also includes explicit text messages allegedly sent by her.
Davis claims that the lawsuit is a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars.”
The response also discusses in detail a “secretly recorded video” that the plaintiff shared with Sharpe in order to “extract a large financial settlement.”
Shannon Sharpe played 14 seasons as a professional tight end in the National Football League. The Hall of Famer won three Super Bowls, including the back-to-back championships with the Denver Broncos.
RELATED: Shannon Sharpe faces disturbing allegations by anonymous woman