logo
Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault accuser is stood up by her attorney at first hearing in $50m lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault accuser is stood up by her attorney at first hearing in $50m lawsuit

Daily Mail​11-07-2025
The first hearing of Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault lawsuit in Nevada was derailed Wednesday when his accuser's attorney was mysteriously absent from court, leading to questions about the future of her case against the NFL great.
Tony Buzbee, the Texas attorney representing the Jane Doe suing her ex-boyfriend in Sharpe, was not present this week, but did offer an explanation when contacted Friday by Daily Mail.
'There was an agreement to reset that hearing with Mr. Sharpe's lead counsel,' Buzbee told Daily Mail in an email. 'A miscommunication on Sharpe's legal team obviously occurred. Mr. Sharpe's counsel intends to write an apology letter to the court for wasting the court's time.'
Daily Mail has reached out to Sharpe's legal counsel for confirmation.
One of Sharpe's attorneys, Robert DeMarco, was on hand for the hearing, but Sharpe's other lawyers were out of state and unable to attend, DeMarco told 8newsnow.com,
That Las Vegas news outlet also reported that Judge Anna Albertson expressed her disappointment in Buzbee's absence on Wednesday.
Sharpe's legal team has yet to file an official response to the lawsuit. On Wednesday, they asked Albertson to review the case and extend 45 days. Albertson was surprised Sharpe's team wasn't eager to settle, but nonetheless granted the request, according to 8newsnow.com.
The next hearing will be September 3.
The $50 million lawsuit accuses Sharpe of repeatedly raping his now-ex girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe, in 2024 and 2025.
The accuser claims she was abused by Sharpe over their year-long relationship. She also claims that it was another woman, and not her, who was caught having sex with Sharpe when the Pro Football Hall of Famer accidentally streamed live audio of the encounter on social media in September.
Sharpe is first accused of raping Doe the following month, allegedly forcing himself on her as she 'was crying and sobbing.' He allegedly raped her again in January after arriving at her home with promises of Christmas and birthday gifts.
'The lawsuit lays out a pattern of intimidation, manipulation, and abuse, including allegations that Sharpe repeatedly threatened to choke and slap Jane Doe,' read an April statement from Buzbee.
Sharpe has denied the accusations in a statement through his attorneys in which he identified his accuser by name.
Buzbee is best known for representing 20 women who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment.
He also represented a woman who accused rapper Jay-Z of rape only to drop her allegations. Jay-Z ultimately sued Buzbee for allegedly making false claims, but that lawsuit was also dismissed.
Doe and Sharpe met in 2023 when she was 20 and he was in his mid-50s, according to the filing obtained by Daily Mail. The woman claims Sharpe told her he would 'buy her fake t**s' if she won a weight-loss competition with him. From there, she claims, Sharpe pursued her vigorously, calling, texting and 'demanding she come to his Beverly Glen mansion.'
Curiously, Sharpe demanded she sign a non-disclosure agreement when their relationship began, only to drop that request when she repeatedly refused.
'... Sharpe made another demand—she had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, an ''NDA,''' reads the filing obtained by Daily Mail. 'He refused to explain why and would not let her see a copy of the proposed agreement. He simply insisted she sign one. Plaintiff refused. After multiple attempts, when he realized she would not cooperate, he finally dropped the issue.'
Jane Doe describes their relationship as consensual but claims he 'demanded complete control over her time and body.' Often he was 'expecting her to be at his house on his schedule, at his command, whenever he called,' according to the filing.
She became particularly fearful of Sharpe during an argument during which there was a handgun visible in the room.
'Plaintiff tried sharing her location with friends from her iPhone -- just in case,' the filings state. 'But Sharpe saw her doing this. The moment he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and told her, ''If you ever do that again, I will f***ing kill you.'''
A popular podcast host and ESPN personality, Sharpe is rumored to be in line for a massive new deal.
Front Office Sports has reported that Sharpe has received multiple offers as his current media deal with Colin Cowherd's platform, The Volume, is set to expire. Furthermore, sources told FSO Sharpe's next deal is expected to exceed $100 million, which happens to be the reported amount Smith got in his recent contract negotiations with ESPN .
That might come as a surprise, but Sharpe does have a massive audience. A recent interview with comedian Katt Williamson hit nearly 90 million views and Club Shay Shay currently boasts around 4 million subscribers, making it among the most popular podcasts in sports and entertainment.
Regardless of whether Sharpe's next deal surpasses $100 million in total value, it will assuredly exceed the $22 million he made over 14 NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens.
The brother of former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe, Shannon played at little-known Savannah State before being taken by the Denver Broncos as an afterthought in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
But instead of being a backup or role player, Sharpe soon established himself as one of the most productive tight ends in football despite not possessing elite size at just 6-foot-2, 228-pounds.
He would go on to win two Super Bowls with the Broncos and another with the Baltimore Ravens before turning to Denver to finish his career in 2003.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

A's look for youth movement to continue paying off vs. Mariners
A's look for youth movement to continue paying off vs. Mariners

Reuters

time13 minutes ago

  • Reuters

A's look for youth movement to continue paying off vs. Mariners

July 28 - Jacob Wilson of the Athletics was the leading candidate for American League Rookie of the Year for most of this season. But teammate Nick Kurtz is in the process of taking over the pole position. The two rookies have created optimism for the club's future and the Athletics are enjoying a hot streak as they open a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at West Sacramento, Calif. The Athletics are looking for a season-best fifth straight win after annihilating the Houston Astros in a four-game road sweep. The A's outscored Houston 32-7 for their first four-game sweep during manager Mark Kotsay's 3 1/2 seasons at the helm. "That was huge for us to win four games over the top seed in our division," Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler said after Sunday's 7-1 win. "It says what kind of team we are. We're always grinding. ... We're going to go into Sacramento with some momentum." Kurtz was the prime force for the Athletics despite sitting out Sunday due to a tired lower body. He went 11-for-15 in the series with nine RBIs. The 22-year-old etched his name into baseball lore with one of the top individual outings in history. Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four homers, eight RBIs, six runs and a whopping 19 total bases in Friday's 15-3 romp over Houston. Kurtz has played in 67 games for the A's after opening the season with 20 appearances for Triple-A Las Vegas. He also made one rehab appearance at Class A Stockton for a total of 88 games. He has never played that many games in a season at any level. "I'm learning as I go," Kurtz said. "I'm trying to figure out what I need to do in the training room and weight room to prepare myself each and every day. I'm learning from the guys who have been there and done that." Selected fourth overall in the 2024 draft after hitting 61 homers in 164 college games at Wake Forest, Kurtz has displayed impressive raw power this season. He is batting .309 with 23 homers, 59 RBIs and a .683 slugging percentage. At the same time, Wilson is in a 4-for-38 rut to see his average drop to .312. The starting shortstop in the All-Star Game for the American League missed three games of the Houston series with a lingering left hand injury and he may sit again Monday. Seattle, of course, has its own player doing big things in All-Star catcher Cal Raleigh. Raleigh hit homers in each of the last two games of a four-game set in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. He leads the majors with 41 and is the first catcher and first switch-hitter in MLB history to reach 40 homers before the end of July. The Mariners, who lost 4-1 on Sunday, are tied for second in the AL West with the Texas Rangers and the same clubs are knotted for the third and final wild-card spot. It will be no surprise if Seattle makes a move or two prior to Thursday's trade deadline. "We do have some other areas we'd like to address -- and not the least of which is, like every other team in the postseason hunt, we'd like to add to that bullpen," Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said on Sirius radio Sunday. Right-hander Luis Castillo (7-6, 3.30 ERA) starts for Seattle against left-hander JP Sears (7-8, 4.98) of the Athletics. Castillo, 32, lost to the A's on March 28 when he gave up two runs and three hits over five innings. He is 3-3 with a 3.28 ERA in 46 2/3 innings over eight career starts against the Athletics. Sears, 29, lost to Seattle on March 30 when he allowed two runs and five hits over 6 2/3 innings. He is 2-4 with a 2.67 ERA in 57 1/3 innings over 10 appearances (nine starts) against the Mariners. Raleigh is 2-for-12 with a homer off Sears. --Field Level Media

Lionel Messi looks embarrassed as he and wife Antonela are shown on Coldplay kiss cam at Miami concert
Lionel Messi looks embarrassed as he and wife Antonela are shown on Coldplay kiss cam at Miami concert

The Sun

time13 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Lionel Messi looks embarrassed as he and wife Antonela are shown on Coldplay kiss cam at Miami concert

LIONEL MESSI was caught in a rare moment of awkwardness with his stunning wife Antonela Roccuzzo at a Coldplay concert. The loved-up couple were enjoying the British rock-band's final U.S show in Miami when the dreaded kiss cam landed squarely on them. 6 6 It comes days after the kiss scam scandal involving married Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot. Their ducking reaction to being filmed at Boston's gig has caught the world's attention - with millions now talking about an alleged affair. And while many might seize the opportunity for a public smooch, Messi seemed to go bright red given the circumstances. Footage circulating on social media showed the Inter Miami star smiling sheepishly, while Antonela, ever graceful, beamed beside him. With everyone in the crowd cheering "Messi", the couple waved to fans before Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin serenaded them. Martin, who had jokingly called out Byron and Caobt's potential 'affair' during his performance last week, thanked Messi for coming and called him "the No1 sports person of all-time". And it didn't take long for fans online to see the funny side. One wrote: "They should have tried to hide for a second. That would be hilarious." Join SUN CLUB for the Man Utd Files every Thursday plus in-depth coverage and exclusives from Old Trafford While another said: "They were just singing and not dodging any Cam scandals." A third said: 'Jumbotron with Lionel Messi! (He didn't hide, though).' Moment Chris Martin laughs as he issues kiss cam warning days after CEO and HR chief caught 6 6 Although not spotted in the viral clip, Antonela later posted snaps of the couple's three sons enjoying the show at the Hard Rock Stadium. Thiago, 12, was pictured wearing a Coldplay cap, while Mateo, nine, wore a snazzy pair of 3D glasses as Ciro, six, cuddled into his dad. Meanwhile, Messi was serving a one-match suspension for Inter Miami's game against FC Cincinnati on Saturday. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner and fellow Barcelona legend Jordi Alba were punished for skipping Major League Soccer's All-Star game earlier this week. Both players missed Wednesday's match in Austin, Texas where the MLS squad posted a 3-1 win against Mexico's Liga MX All-Stars. Elsewhere, Humiliated Byron and Cabot quit their jobs at the tech company as a result of the scandal. And Martin's ex-wife Gwyneth Paltrow was hired by Astronomer for a tongue-in-cheek video, in what fans are describing as a genius PR move. 6

Fresh off recent success, Pirates ready to face struggling Giants
Fresh off recent success, Pirates ready to face struggling Giants

Reuters

time41 minutes ago

  • Reuters

Fresh off recent success, Pirates ready to face struggling Giants

July 28 - The Pittsburgh Pirates get an opportunity to continue their run of spoiling other teams' postseason hopes when they open a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. The Pirates, the last-place club in the National League Central, hit rock bottom last Sunday when they were beaten for the third time in a row at home by the team with the fewest wins in the American League, the Chicago White Sox. But with Tommy Pham going 9-for-20, Spencer Horwitz driving in seven runs and the bullpen coming up big to close out three shutout victories, Pittsburgh rebounded with three straight wins over the first-place Detroit Tigers before taking two of three from the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the Giants' rivals in the NL playoff race. The Pirates are on such a nice run, at least one player has changed his mindset from possibly getting traded before Friday's deadline to who might join the team to fuel an even better finishing flurry. "It's something I have no control over," center fielder Oneil Cruz insisted in front of his locker after Sunday's win. "Whoever comes to help us win, it's welcome. We'll do our best to welcome him in a good way." One of the most popular Pirates in trade rumors will get another showcase opportunity when right-hander Mitch Keller (4-10, 3.53 ERA) takes the mound in the series opener in San Francisco. The 29-year-old stood at 1-9 with a 4.15 ERA on June 10 before finding a rhythm that has seen him go 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA in his last seven starts. He contributed to the Pirates' just-completed big week with six innings of three-run ball in an 8-5 win over the Tigers last Tuesday. Keller will be making his fifth career start against the Giants, against whom he has gone 1-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings over their first four head-to-heads. One day after splitting pitching chores among seven guys in a bullpen game, the Giants will promote Carson Whisenhunt from Triple-A Sacramento to oppose Keller in his big-league debut. The 24-year-old left-hander has started 18 games for Sacramento this season, going 8-5 with a 4.42 ERA, 28 walks and 86 strikeouts in 97 2/3 innings. The Giants would love to give their new teammate more support than their pitchers got in the three-game sweep to the New York Mets, when San Francisco totaled just five runs. The Giants did not get a hit in 23 at-bats with runners in scoring position in the series. With an eye on adding more firepower to the lineup, Giants manager Bob Melvin gave Rafael Devers two starts at first base against the Mets. That allowed Wilmer Flores, San Francisco's most productive hitter in the first half of the season, to get nine at-bats in the series -- eight as a DH, one as a pinch hitter -- during which he had three hits. But Devers had a nightmarish night in the field in Saturday's loss, one from which Melvin took a surprisingly optimistic view when asked by reporters to assess the performance after the game. "I'm glad he got a bunch of balls (in the game)," Melvin insisted. "The more he gets like that, the more in-between plays and plays where he's got to make a decision on whether he's covering first or going to get the ball ... all of those things are going to be good for him at the end of the day." The clubs will meet in a rematch next week in Pittsburgh, perhaps with some different personnel after the trade deadline. --Field Level Media

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store