NFL Hall of Famer and ESPN personality Shannon Sharpe took to social media to address a leaked audio clip that has sparked significant controversy. The audio, released by the attorney of a woman suing Sharpe for $50 million over allegations of sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress, allegedly features Sharpe threatening to “choke” his accuser. In response, Sharpe has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit a “shakedown” and asserting that the audio has been manipulated to misrepresent the nature of his relationship with the plaintiff.
The lawsuit, filed in Nevada by a woman identified as “Jane Doe,” claims that Sharpe engaged in a pattern of coercion and abuse during their relationship, which began in 2023 when she was 20 years old. The plaintiff alleges that Sharpe raped her on multiple occasions, recorded sexual encounters without her consent, and shared those recordings with others. On April 22, attorney Tony Buzbee released an audio recording to TMZ, which he claims captures Sharpe threatening his client, saying, “If you say that word one more time, I’m gonna f–king choke the s–t out of you when I see you.” The accuser can be heard responding, “I don’t want to be choked,” to which the voice presumed to be Sharpe replies, “Yes, you do. I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”
Buzbee described the audio as “disturbing, aggressive, and dangerous,” arguing that it provides a glimpse into the dynamics of the relationship shortly before the alleged assaults. The release of the audio has fueled public debate, with some viewing it as damning evidence, while others question its context and authenticity.
In a video posted to his social media platforms, Sharpe addressed the audio leak directly, calling it an “edited video” orchestrated by Buzbee to “manipulate the media.” He suggested that the clip is part of a larger, 10-minute recording that, if released in full, would provide critical context to the conversation. “Hey Tony, instead of releasing your edit, put the whole video out,” Sharpe challenged, implying that the unedited version would exonerate him by showing the consensual nature of their interactions.
Sharpe’s legal team, led by attorney Lanny J. Davis, has echoed these claims, asserting that the audio and other evidence, such as text messages between Sharpe and the accuser, demonstrate a consensual relationship involving “role-playing” and “fantasy.” Davis has released explicit text messages allegedly from the accuser, including one requesting Sharpe to “put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it,” to support their argument that the threats in the audio were not serious but part of their dynamic.
Sharpe has also accused Buzbee of targeting Black men, referencing the attorney’s involvement in lawsuits against other high-profile figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jay-Z. He claims Buzbee is attempting to exploit stereotypes to paint him as guilty, further alleging that the attorney plans to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape edited to misrepresent a consensual encounter. Sharpe insists that the full, unedited 10-minute video would clarify the situation.
Flip the pages of the audio recordings and photos of Ms. Zuniga aka Karli.
