Shannon Sharpe on Tuesday addressed the rape allegations made against him, calling the $50 million civil lawsuit filed by a woman under the pseudonym Jane Doe “a shakedown” and declaring he would sue for defamation.
“I’m gonna be open, transparent and defend myself because this isn’t right. This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z,” the 56-year-old Pro Football Hall of Famer said in an Instagram video, referring to Doe’s lawyer.
“Tony Buzbee targets black men, and I believe he’s going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty, and plays into every stereotype you could possibly imagine. That video should actually be 10 minutes or so.
“Hey Tony, instead of releasing your edit, put the whole video out. I don’t have it, or I would myself. You know what happened and you’re trying to manipulate the media. The encounter in question took place during the day at her invitation, and now that appears to be a deliberate setup.”
Earlier Tuesday, Buzbee released audio of an alleged conversation between Sharpe and Doe in which Sharpe appears to say, “I’m going to f–king choke the s–t out of you.”
Sharpe denied the accusations Monday through his lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, who named the accuser and released a series of explicit texts allegedly sent by Doe which Davis argues are indicative of a consensual relationship that included “role-playing” and “fantasy.”
Shannon Sharpe on ESPN’s “First Take” on April 22, 2025. YouTube/ESPN
“I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while you’re f–king me,” Doe is accused of saying in a text to Sharpe in October 2023.
Sharpe remains on ESPN’s airwaves, having appeared on “First Take” on Tuesday.
