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What’s Going On Between Shannon Sharpe and Gabriella Zuniga?
NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN host Shannon Sharpe is at the center of a major legal battle. He’s being sued for $50 million by Gabriella Zuniga, who claims she was in an abusive relationship with him that began in 2023, when she was 20 years old, and continued until early 2025.
Zuniga, also identified as Jane Doe in court documents, has accused Sharpe of sexual assault on multiple occasions, saying he violated her trust and crossed personal boundaries during their time together.
What Gabriella Zuniga Is Alleging
According to Zuniga, the relationship was emotionally and physically harmful. She says Sharpe:
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Threatened her on multiple occasions.
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Pressured her into sex even when she said no.
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Secretly recorded intimate moments and shared them without her consent.
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Made violent threats, including saying he would harm or kill her.
She also released an audio clip that she claims captures Sharpe threatening to choke her. As the case gained attention, Zuniga updated her Instagram profile to speak publicly about her experience. She also maintains a presence on platforms like OnlyFans, which has added to the media spotlight.
Shannon Sharpe’s Response to the Allegations
Sharpe has completely denied the accusations. He says the relationship was consensual, and the audio recording in question was part of role-play between two willing adults.
His legal team argues that Zuniga is attempting a “shakedown” for money. They have released text messages and other digital conversations that they say paint a very different picture—one of mutual involvement rather than abuse.
Sharpe’s attorney, Lanny Davis, also revealed that Zuniga was offered a $10 million settlement, which she turned down before moving forward with the lawsuit. Sharpe now says he will file a countersuit for defamation against both Zuniga and her attorney, Tony Buzbee, who is known for handling high-profile cases.
What’s the Current Status of the Case?
Right now, this is a civil case, not a criminal one. That means no criminal charges have been filed—yet. The case is still unfolding, and both sides are presenting new evidence. It’s expected that more details will emerge as court proceedings continue.
