NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe is forcefully denying explosive allegations after his former girlfriend, Gabriella Zuniga, filed a $5 million lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress. Zuniga, represented by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee, claims Sharpe coerced her into a relationship, threatened her, and filmed their encounters without consent during a turbulent two-year relationship.
Sharpe’s legal team, led by Lanny J. Davis, has responded by publicly naming Zuniga and releasing graphic text messages they say prove the relationship was consensual and mutually explicit. Davis alleges the lawsuit is a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars,” and points to messages from Zuniga that suggest ongoing, willing intimacy well after the alleged incidents.
A central piece of evidence is a video Zuniga reportedly recorded of one of their encounters. Sharpe’s team claims the video was heavily edited to misrepresent consensual acts as non-consensual, and that Zuniga has refused to provide the unedited footage for review.
As the legal battle heats up, both sides are trading accusations of deceit and manipulation. Sharpe maintains his innocence and vows to fight what he calls an extortion attempt, while Zuniga and her attorney stand by the seriousness of her claims. The case is set to become one of the most closely watched celebrity lawsuits of.
