Pro Football Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe has been accused of sexual assault and battery, in addition to engaging in the intentional infliction of emotional distress, in a lawsuit filed in Clark County, Nevada.

Sharpe has vehemently denied the sexual assault and battery allegations, alleging he’s the victim of a “blatant set-up” and “shakedown” attempt.

Here’s everything to know.

Why is Shannon Sharpe being sued?

Sharpe was accused of sexual assault and battery, in addition to engaging in the intentional infliction of emotional distress, in a lawsuit filed in Clark County, Nevada, on Sunday.

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According to the suit obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the plaintiff, listed under the alias “Jane Doe,” alleged that Sharpe sexually assaulted her twice, once in October 2024 and again in January 2025. They met at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 19.

The plaintiff, who is seeking $50 million in damages, said she was in a relationship with Sharpe for nearly two years, and it began as a “rocky consensual relationship.” The woman says Sharpe became violent over the course of the relationship, threatened to kill her during one incident, and recorded their sexual encounters without her consent.

In October 2024, Sharpe violently sexually assaulted the plaintiff on two separate occasions in Las Vegas, ignoring her requests to stop, the lawsuit says.

What is Shannon Sharpe saying about the lawsuit?

Sharpe has denied the allegations and said “the encounter in question took place during the day at her invitation.”

“This is a shakedown. I’m going to be open, transparent and defend myself because this isn’t right,” Sharpe said in an Instagram video Tuesday.

One of the attorneys representing Jane Doe is Tony Buzbee, whom Sharpe accused of targeting him.

“This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee,” Sharpe said. “I believe he is going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty and plays into every stereotype you can possibly imagine.”

“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 are trying to manipulate the media.”

Sharpe said Buzbee has a history of “targeting Black men,” pointing to Buzbee’s involvement in a civil lawsuit filed against Jay-Z in December. Sharpe added that Buzbee is actively “trying to take me down.”

In a statement released Monday, Sharpe’s attorney Lanny J. Davis called the lawsuit “a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars. It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations – and it will not succeed.”

“Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — especially the gross lie of ‘rape’ — and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail,” Davis said in the statement. “He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on facts and the law.”

According to the New York Post, Davis went on to name the accuser in a series of press releases. He also shared explicit text messages allegedly sent by the accuser, arguing the messages show a consensual relationship.

Davis also said Sharpe was willing to pay “at least $10 million” in a settlement for the accuser’s silence. The two were amid mediation prior to the lawsuit being filed, per the NY Post.

Who is Tony Buzbee?

Buzbee is a lawyer based in Texas.

He was part of the legal team that reached settlements against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson after more than two dozen massage therapists accused him of sexual misconduct. Buzbee also represented an anonymous woman who claimed rapper Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs sexually assaulted her as a teenager more than two decades ago in a since-dismissed civil suit.

Buzbee also ran for Houston City Council in 2023 but lost.

What is Tony Buzbee saying?

In a statement to USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday, Buzbee said, “Mr. Sharpe is unfortunately a liar.”

“Sharpe offered Jane Doe $10 million to settle her case that she rejected,” Buzbee said. “She chose to file her case instead. I’m proud to be her lawyer. I didn’t seek her out as a client or target anyone and Sharpe is well aware of that.”

What did Stephen A. Smith say about Shannon Sharpe?

Sharpe appeared on “First Take” on ESPN on Tuesday.

“First Take” star Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on his “Stephen A. Smith Show” Tuesday.

“I don’t know what’s happened. I know I got love for the brother,” Smith said, per the New York Post. “I know that I’m wishing that he’s innocent and all of this stuff goes away and he can continue to thrive with me on ESPN and thrive in his own platforms that he worked so diligently over the years to build. But anything else would be entirely irresponsible for me to speak on and I can’t do that. Yes I own this, this is my platform. But I also have a day job and I also understand what lawyers, what HR, and all those other things entail.”

“I have no idea what direction ESPN will go in when it comes to this matter,” Smith said. “All I do know is it won’t be me making the decision. It will be others upstairs. In the end, all of us have someone to answer to. No matter how maverick we try to be.”