Sharpe Releases Explicit Texts in Zuniga’s $50M Lawsuit
Shannon Sharpe’s legal team has launched a vigorous counteroffensive against the $50 million sexual assault lawsuit filed by Gabriella Zuniga, releasing alleged text messages they claim prove the relationship was consensual and sexually explicit by mutual agreement. The former NFL star’s attorney, Lanny J. Davis, issued a statement Monday characterizing Zuniga’s lawsuit as “a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars,” according to Hot New Hip Hop.
In a bold defense strategy, Sharpe’s team not only identified the previously anonymous accuser by name but also published what they claim are explicit text messages sent by Zuniga that allegedly demonstrate she initiated and requested many of their sexual encounters. These messages, which Sharpe’s team says were sent between October 2023 and January 2025, contain graphic sexual language and requests.
“These messages are just a sampling of a broader pattern of graphic, sexual communications initiated by Ms. Zuniga,” Davis stated. “The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested by Ms. Zuniga.”
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Secret Recording Central to Case
A particularly contentious element of the case involves allegations of secret recording. While Zuniga’s lawsuit claims Sharpe filmed their intimate encounters without her knowledge, Sharpe’s legal team has flipped the narrative, alleging that Zuniga was the one who secretly recorded their consensual activities as part of a premeditated plan.
“In her effort to extract a large financial settlement, Ms. Zuniga presented Mr. Sharpe with a secretly recorded video of a consensual sexual encounter,” Davis claimed. He further alleged this recording was “heavily edited and taken entirely out of context” and “crafted to portray a consensual act as non-consensual,” according to Yahoo News.
Sharpe’s team claims that Zuniga has refused to provide them with an unedited version of the recording, which they argue would demonstrate the consensual nature of their interaction. This claim directly contradicts Zuniga’s lawsuit, which portrays Sharpe as the one who recorded their encounters without permission.
Timeline Raises Questions About Financial Motives
Sharpe’s legal defense has highlighted a specific timeline they believe supports their claim of financial motivation. According to Davis, Sharpe and Zuniga continued having consensual relations until January 2, 2025, “the day after she asked for ‘$25,000 per cheek'” in a text message allegedly sent to Sharpe.
This timing, coupled with recent reports that Sharpe was expecting a $100 million windfall from a new contract for his podcasts, has been presented by his defense as evidence of opportunistic timing, according to Awful Announcing.
“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 stated firmly in his response to the allegations.
Contrasting Narratives of Relationship
The lawsuit filed by Zuniga, represented by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee, tells a dramatically different story. It alleges that what began as a flirtatious gym encounter in 2023 evolved into a controlling and abusive relationship, with Sharpe allegedly demanding “complete control over her time and body.”
Zuniga’s lawsuit includes disturbing claims of physical threats, alleging that Sharpe once “grabbed her by the neck and told her, ‘If you ever do that again, I will f-cking kill you'” after discovering she was sharing her location via iPhone. The suit further claims Sharpe raped her twice – once in October 2024 and again in January 2025.
The stark contrast between these competing narratives sets the stage for what could be a prolonged and contentious legal battle. Sharpe has vowed to “fight these false claims vigorously in court,” while Buzbee has stated his client demonstrated “a great deal of courage to stand up against those with power, fame, and money.”
Media and Public Reaction
Sharpe appeared on ESPN’s “First Take” Monday morning as regularly scheduled, though the network has not yet issued any public comment regarding the allegations. As the story continues to develop, both the sports media landscape and public opinion remain divided on how to process these conflicting accounts.
The case highlights the challenging intersection of private relationships, public figures, and the complexities of consent – themes that will likely be further scrutinized as legal proceedings advance. With both sides presenting dramatically different versions of events, the truth may ultimately be determined through the legal process.
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