Former NFL star and popular sports analyst Shannon Sharpe found himself at the center of a major controversy in April 2025 when a 20-year-old OnlyFans model accused him of sexual assault. The situation escalated dramatically when an audio recording allegedly featuring Sharpe making violent threats was made public.
The Allegations and Audio Evidence
According to reports from TMZ, the young woman's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, released an audio clip that presented a disturbing picture of Sharpe's relationship with the model. In the recording, a man identified as Sharpe could be heard making threatening statements.
The audio allegedly captured Sharpe saying, "If you say that word one more time, I'm going to f--king choke the s--t out of you when I see you..." When the woman responded with "I don't want to be choked," the man believed to be Sharpe allegedly replied, "Yes, you do...I don't think you have a choice in the matter."
The lawsuit filed against the NFL legend sought $50 million in damages, accusing Sharpe of rape and failing to understand the concept of consent. The legal documents stated that "A woman can say 'yes' to consensual sexual relations with a man ninety-nine times, but when she says 'no' even once, that 'no' means no..."
Legal Battle and Settlement
Shannon Sharpe and his legal team consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that the relationship was entirely consensual and claiming he had been "trapped." Despite his denials, the case reached a resolution in July 2025 when both parties agreed to a $20 million settlement, significantly less than the original $50 million demand.
The lawsuit provided detailed accusations against Sharpe, describing him as "a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants" and alleging that he "completely fails to understand this basic concept" of consent. The documents further claimed that after "many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff – a woman more than thirty years younger than he – and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to accept the answer no and raped Plaintiff, despite her sobbing and repeated screams of 'no.'"
Career Consequences and Fallout
The controversy had immediate professional consequences for Sharpe. ESPN terminated his position as host on First Take following the settlement announcement. The network made the decision to part ways with the Hall of Fame tight end as the scandal continued to generate negative publicity.
Sharpe's reputation among fans also suffered significantly, with many publicly trolling the former athlete on social media platforms. The case highlighted the ongoing issues of power dynamics in relationships between public figures and younger individuals, as well as the serious consequences that can follow such allegations, even when settled out of court.
Throughout the ordeal, Sharpe maintained his innocence, but the damage to his broadcasting career and public image appeared substantial. The settlement, while resolving the legal matter, left many questions unanswered about the nature of his relationship with the young model and the events that led to the lawsuit.
