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Shannon Sharpe and his ‘Nightcap’ co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson are reportedly facing a $20 million lawsuit from a woman who says they spread lies about her personal life after she went viral at a Usher concert. Jimalita Tillman claims the duo falsely said she was married and joked about her “husband” being ready to leave her following her steamy moment with the R&B singer. The comments caused harm to her reputation, and she’s now seeking $20 million in damages! Here’s the lowdown…
Tillman has filed a $20 million lawsuit against Sharpe, Johnson, and the podcast production company, Shay Shay Media. The whole thing kicked off after Tillman had a flirty moment with Usher during his April 2 concert in London. The interaction went viral. But Tillman says Sharpe and Johnson twisted the narrative on their podcast, falsely claiming she was married and that her husband was going to file for divorce over the clip.
In court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun, Tillman stated:
Following this event, the defendants made and disseminated false and defamatory statements suggesting that I was married and that my husband was filing for divorce due to my participation in this audience experience. I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce.
She emphasized that she was not married when she attended the Usher concert. Additionally, she claimed that the false narrative spread across the defendants platforms, reaching millions, despite her efforts to set the record straight.
Tillman didnt sit quietly while her name was dragged. She claims she repeatedly tried to get Sharpe, Johnson, and Shay Shay Media to remove the defamatory content. But her pleas were ignored. I made numerous efforts to contact the defendants to request the removal of this false narrative, but these requests were disregarded, she said in court documents. The defendants allegedly continued posting the false claims across their social media platforms, amplifying the damage.
The Chicago native says the lies consequently caused harm to her “character and reputation. She added, Their continued dissemination of these false statements after I publicly clarified my marital status demonstrates a reckless disregard for the truth. Tillman argued that the misinformation led to emotional distress and affected her reputation. Shes now seeking $20 million in damages.
This lawsuit isnt the only legal trouble Sharpe has faced recently. Just days before Tillmans case was filed, ESPN parted ways with the NFL Hall of Famer on Wednesday, July 30. The decision came after the settlement of a separate $50 million lawsuit accusing Sharpe of rape. The Athletic reported that Sharpe, who joined ESPNs First Take in 2023, had been off the air since April, when the rape allegations surfaced.
The lawsuit, filed by a woman named Gabriella Zuniga, alleged sexual assault and battery between late 2024 and early 2025. Sharpe denied the claims, calling the case a shakedown, and settled it earlier this month. Despite his ESPN exit, Sharpe has stayed active with his podcasts, Club Shay Shay and Nightcap, co-hosted with Johnson. However, Tillmans lawsuit adds more heat to Sharpes already complicated legal battles. She told The U.S. Sun:
Weve been in communication with the legal team of Shay Shay Media, who was also representing Shannon Sharpe. Theyre looking to resolve this matter quickly, and we will probably have more to share upon our next conversation.
