Bone-chilling audio clip of Shannon Sharpe threatening to choke his accuser in public goes viral

Shannon Sharpe, NFL Hall of Fame and a renowned media personality, has landed in hot water after his ex-lover accused him of forced consent.

Bone-chilling audio clip of Shannon Sharpe threatening to choke his accuser in public goes viral

Shannon Sharpe (Image via Outkick)

Shannon Sharpe, already facing a $50 million civil lawsuit for rape, faced further scrutiny after new audio surfaced. The clip, released by the accuser’s lawyer Tony Buzbee via TMZ, featured Sharpe making disturbing remarks. In the recording, he threatened to choke the woman in public while referencing their physical differences.

The woman had previously accused Sharpe of multiple assaults in late 2024 and early 2025. The incidents reportedly occurred during what both sides described as a “rocky consensual relationship.”

The lawsuit alleged s*xual assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress over a two-year span. Sharpe had denied all accusations through his attorney, Lanny J. Davis, calling the claims a “shakedown.”

The latest audio featured Sharpe in a bad light with a slight racial hint to his fantasy play.

“I might choke you in public… Big black guy chokes small white woman,” Shannon Sharpe is heard speaking to the accuser in the audio.

When the accuser responded, “It’s not a good look, Shannon,” Sharpe deflected with an unclear accusation.

Another clip from the day prior captured Sharpe allegedly saying, “If you say that word again, I’ll choke the s**t out of you.” The woman replied, “I don’t want to be choked,” to which Sharpe allegedly responded, “Yes, you do.”

Sharpe’s legal team insisted the conversations reflected role-play and fantasy within a consensual relationship. Davis stated the woman’s involvement with OnlyFans supported that claim, citing texts that described explicit scenarios.

Davis claimed that her actions were financially motivated. He added that Sharpe’s team would file a counterclaim and hold the accuser accountable for false accusations.

Despite the defense, the content of the recordings painted a deeply troubling portrait of Sharpe’s behavior. As anyone would guess, public opinion began shifting rapidly as the remarks suggested a pattern of control and emotional aggression.

For a prominent figure in sports media, such language and tone, regardless of context, raised serious ethical questions. The fallout from the lawsuit and recordings may now extend beyond legal implications and permanently damage Sharpe’s reputation. The NFL Hall of Famer reportedly was about to sign one of the biggest podcast deals in history, but his future is unknown.

What is the current status of Shannon Sharpe at ESPN?

Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe’s First Take co-host, has addressed the ongoing s*xual assault allegations. Speaking candidly on his podcast, Smith acknowledged the seriousness of the situation while outlining his limited influence over Sharpe’s employment status at ESPN.

Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe (Image via Deadline)

To be clear, even though this podcast is owned and operated by me solely, it doesn’t mean that I’m going to be dismissive of ESPN, who employs me in my daytime job on First Take.

Stephen A. Smith stated

He emphasized that the network was aware he would be speaking on the matter, noting, “I owe them that courtesy.” Smith admitted he did not know how the situation would unfold, acknowledging the layers of corporate oversight at play.

I am the executive producer of First Take on ESPN … but I’m not the boss. Those are other folksThere are certain layers that even I am not on.

Stephen A Smith added

He also confirmed having spoken directly with Disney co-chairman Jimmy Pitaro about the case. Smith revealed that Pitaro is taking this issue seriously with a close introspection of all parties involved and all angles.

While Smith expressed hope that the allegations might ultimately be dismissed, he recognized the uncertainty of the outcome. However, he admitted that Sharpe, whom he referred to as a friend, is found innocent in this legal and reputational battle.