Justina Valentine faces major backlash after mocking Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault scandal on her own podcast
Justina Valentine sparked viral reactions after making a joke about Shannon Sharpe's ongoing sexual assault lawsuit (Getty Images)
Comedian and rapper Justina Valentine sparked viral reactions this week after making a daring joke about Shannon Sharpe's ongoing sexual assault lawsuit—right to his face, and on his own podcast.
The moment, which aired on the May 19 episode of Nightcap with co-host Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson, struck a nerve with audiences as it blurred the line between comedy and controversy.
A comedian's edge or too far? Public reaction to Justina Valentine's jab
— AkademiksTV (@AkademiksTV)
As the show neared its end, Shannon Sharpe casually mentioned that he might never have had a white woman as a guest on his other show, Club Shay Shay. Justina Valentine didn't miss a beat: 'Well, Shay Shay, we know what happens with you and white women, but I'm a different kind...
I've been to the cookout for a long time now. Don't worry about it."
The room erupted in laughter, including Sharpe, Ochocinco, and guest Joe Johnson, but viewers outside the studio had mixed reactions. Some praised Valentine's quick wit, while others criticized the timing and sensitivity of referencing a lawsuit involving serious allegations.
Valentine's comment came just weeks after Sharpe was accused of sexual assault and battery by a woman identified only as Jane Doe.
Filed in April in Clark County, Nevada, the lawsuit alleges two incidents of assault during what the accuser describes as a previously consensual relationship. She's seeking $50 million in damages and claims Sharpe became abusive and threatening, even recording private encounters without her consent.
While Sharpe has firmly denied all accusations—calling the case a 'shakedown' and blaming attorney Tony Buzbee for manipulating media narratives—the case has nonetheless cast a shadow over his media career.
He temporarily stepped away from ESPN duties in late April to address what he called 'false and disruptive allegations.'
Despite the severity of the claims, Sharpe remains publicly confident. 'Everybody knows what I'm going through. Lot of people have a lot to say,' he acknowledged on a recent episode of Nightcap. 'Fifty percent of the people don't care that you got problems. The other 50 percent glad that you got them.'
Also Read:
Aaron Rodgers blasted for partying with water gun at concert while using 'difficult stuff' excuse to delay NFL decision
Valentine's joke may have landed in the moment, but it also underscores a broader conversation—when public figures become the story, even their jokes are open to scrutiny.
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