Shannon Sharpe has spoken out after his sexual assault accuser released audio allegedly of him threatening to choke her.
RELATED: Shannon Sharpe Reportedly Accused Of Sexual Assault With $50M Lawsuit
Shannon Sharpe Sexual Assault Accuser Releases Audio Allegedly Of Him Threatening To Choke Her
According to Page Six, the outlet obtained the audio reportedly from the accuser’s attorney on Tuesday, April 22. In the audio, a woman can be heard saying, “Anything I say, you’re just gonna get mad at and you’re gonna hang up on me, so I feel like…”
At that point, a man responds, explaining that they won’t hang up the phone.
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“It is what it is,” they add.
Confused, the woman asks, “What does that even mean?”
“Nothing, [inaudible]. You want to be a d**k to me now, so,” the man responds before the woman tells him not to manipulate her. In turn, the man adds. “If you say that one more time, I’m going to choke the s**t out of you.”
Before the audio concludes, the woman adds that she “doesn’t want to be choked.”
“Yes, you do,” the man firmly responds. “I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”
Listen to the audio below. To note, at this time, it remains unconfirmed whether the audio is unedited and of Shannon Sharpe.
The Host Speaks Out
On the heels of the alleged audio of Shannon Sharpe being released, he took to his social media platforms to speak out. In the clip, Sharpe addressed his friends, family, and colleagues, saying that the allegations against him are a “shakedown.”
“This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z. 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 play into every stereotype you can possibly imagine,” he said.
Sharpe alleged that Buzbee is “trying to manipulate the media.” However, his encounter with the woman was “at her invitation.”
“Gabby and Tony Buzbee want $50 million. [But] what they’re getting is sued for defamation and trying to take me down. My career is all about real talk and honesty,” he added, concluding that he will remain truthful and upfront with his fans and loved ones as the current matter unfolds.
More Details On The Sexual Assault Allegations & $50M Lawsuit Against Shannon Sharpe
As The Shade Room previously reported, on Sunday, April 20, a woman initially revealed as “Jane Doe” filed a lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe in Nevada. The suit accused Sharpe of “assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery, and… intentional infliction of emotional distress.”
The woman, reportedly 30 years Sharpe’s junior, alleged they began a “rocky consensual relationship” almost two years ago. However, during this time, Sharpe allegedly recorded their encounters without her permission and shared the films with others.
After September 2024, the woman attempted to break things off with Sharpe, per the suit. However, he allegedly “relentlessly pursued” her and alllegedly raped her twice — once in October 2024 and in January 2025. Additionally, the suit noted that Sharpe allegedly threatened to choke and slap the woman on occasion.
Ultimately, the suit demanded $50 million from Sharpe along with an expectation of the case to go to trial.
On Monday, April 21, Sharpe’s attorney responded to reports of the lawsuit by releasing a statement alongside NSFW texts from Doe. Additionally, the attorney’s statement revealed the accuser to be a woman named Gabriella Zuniga.
Swipe below for the full statement and descriptions of the NSFW text messages.
Per Page Six, Buzbee, Zuniga’s lawyer, has reacted to her identity being exposed. He reportedly explained that “doxing and trying to humiliate or discredit Jane Doe won’t deter her from pursuing justice in court.” Per the lawyer, the legal proceedings between Sharpe and Doe have been ongoing since February, at least. Additionally, he noted that things reportedly escalated to a lawsuit when Doe “refused the hefty sum offered by Sharpe.”
“Mr. Sharpe’s aggressive approach will instead have the opposite effect. Ms. Doe is not afraid of the truth — she relies upon it,” Buzbee reportedly told the outlet.
