Pro Football Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe settled a lawsuit on July 18, ending a $50 million civil lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault and battery, his attorney said.
Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the woman identified as ‘Jane Doe’ in the lawsuit, announced that the sides reached a resolution and the case would be dismissed.
‘On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client,’ Buzbee said in a statement on X. ‘Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous 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 did not release any details of the arrangement.
The case was initially filed in April after the woman alleged that Sharpe engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress and later assaulted her twice, once in October 2024 and in January 2025.
She said that Sharpe became violent over the course of their relationship and recorded their sexual encounters without her consent.
The Hall of Fame tight end stepped away from making appearances on ESPN in April, but pledged to return to the network for start of the NFL preseason.
He has maintained his innocence throughout the process, saying the relationship was 100% consensual. The 57-year-old called the lawsuit a ‘shakedown’ and a ‘blatant set-up’ by Buzbee and the accuser.
Buzbee was famously part of the legal team that won settlements against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson following sexual misconduct accusations from more than two dozen massage therapists.
While Sharpe has continued with his podcast, ‘Club Shay Shay,’ during the case, it’s unclear at this time if he will return to ESPN.
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