Shannon Sharpe Reaches Settlement in S**ual Assault Lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe is no longer part of the lawsuit that demanded $50 million in compensation for alleged s**ual harassment of an OnlyFans model.

Shannon Sharpe Reaches Settlement in S**ual Assault Lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe (Image via IMAGO)

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Shannon Sharpe had been absent from his ESPN duties ever since an anonymous woman filed a lawsuit against the Hall of Fame tight end. She accused Sharpe of s**ual harassment and battery.

On Friday, the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, announced that Sharpe agreed to a settlement. Buzbee refrained from revealing too much, besides claiming that Sharpe and his client had a consensual relationship.

After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.

Buzbee said via TMZ

TMZ received the same reply from Sharpe’s representatives.

The lawsuit contained a whole host of complaints against the veteran. She accused him of having inappropriate s**ual encounters, s**ual harassment, and harassment battery. Her legal team demanded $50 million as compensatory and punitive damages from Sharpe.

A short while later, Sharpe announced a temporary break from his gig on ESPN. The network also distanced itself.

Before taking legal help, Sharpe called out the woman on social media. An audio file containing a conversation between Sharpe and the woman later identified as OnlyFans model Gabriella Zuniga spread like wildfire. Sharpe can be heard threatening the reportedly 20-year-old to withdraw the lawsuit.

Later, Sharpe went after Buzbee. The former Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens man called Buzbee a racist for trying to bring down a Black man.

This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z. Tony Buzbee targets Black men, and I believe he is going to release a 30-second clip of a s*x tape that tries to make me look guilty and plays into every stereotype you could possibly imagine.

Shannon Sharpe had said

Sharpe’s legal team called the lawsuit a carefully crafted move to extort money from the 57-year-old. Sharpe himself put out a video, claiming that it was a ‘shakedown’ from a woman 30 years younger than him.

Eventually, Buzbee and Sharpe’s legal team negotiated behind the scenes for months and reached a truce to end the feud.

What’s next for Shannon Sharpe?

Before the lawsuit nearly wrecked Shannon Sharpe’s life and career, he was on the verge of signing a monumental podcast deal worth more than $100 million.

Shannon Sharpe Reaches Settlement in S**ual Assault Lawsuit
Shannon Sharpe (Image via IMAGO)

He had partnered with Volume in 2023 following his split from FS1’s Undisputed. Sharpe fell out with Skip Bayless, and he left the show. The show packed its bags after Bayless decided to step down.

Sharpe started his Club Shay Shay and the Nightcap podcast (with Chad Johnson). More than 89 million people viewed Shannon Sharpe’s interview with Kat Williams on Club Shay Shay, in which the famed comedian exposed several secrets about the dark side of Hollywood.

The podcast deal remains pending, and perhaps now he will shift his focus to making it a reality.

Sharpe was drafted by the Broncos in 1990 and retired after the 2003 season. During his retirement, he held records for the most receptions, yards, and touchdowns by a tight end until Tony Gonzalez broke them.

In 2011, Shannon Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame along with running back Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders.

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