Shannon Sharpe has quietly settled the $50 million sexual assault lawsuit filed against him earlier this year. According to the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, “All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed.” The case is being dismissed with prejudice, meaning it’s permanently done. No retrials. No second waves.
Now, let’s rewind a bit and unpack the whole thing.
Back in April 2025, a woman, identified in court documents only as Jane Doe by confirmed to be Gabriella Zuniga filed a lawsuit in Clark County, Nevada, accusing the 57-year-old Hall of Fame tight end of raping her on two separate occasions during what she called a “toxic” and “emotionally manipulative” relationship.
According to the lawsuit, she met Shannon Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023, when she was just 20 years old. What followed was a nearly two-year relationship. She claims the relationship started out consensual but became increasingly abusive. She accused Sharpe of raping her first in October 2024, then again in January. She was seeking $50 million in damages.
At the time the lawsuit was filed, Sharpe flat-out denied everything. He called the allegations “false and disruptive,”, saying the relationship was 100% consensual, and shortly afterward, took a step back from his ESPN duties. This was April 24, just months after he’d made a big transition from FS1’s Undisputed to ESPN’s First Take, where he was already becoming a fan favorite alongside Stephen A. Smith. He did say he’d return by preseason, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled for that.
What makes this case sensitive is the fact that Sharpe is a three-time Super Bowl champ, a former NFL record-holder for tight ends, and a respected voice in sports media. He’s also known for his sharp commentary, viral “Club Shay Shay” interviews, and public stances on issues like race, masculinity, and accountability. So naturally, the allegations hit hard especially in a media landscape where public trust in male athletes and celebrities is constantly being tested.
Adding more spice to the story is the fact that the woman’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, isn’t new to these waters. He’s the same attorney who represented dozens of women in the sexual misconduct cases against Deshaun Watson. His involvement signaled, early on, that this case wasn’t going to be just a flash in the pan.
The Settlement
Now that both parties have reached a “mutually agreed upon resolution,” we won’t get many answers. Settlements like these are typically sealed, meaning we won’t know how much money changed hands or what conditions were agreed to. Anyways, the lawsuit is over. Legally, anyway.
As of now, Gabriella Zuniga has retired from Only fans, and is it wrong that I am a tiny bit happy for her? Let me know in the comments.
