Latest news with #JimalitaTillman
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shannon Sharpe gets a major court update after $20 million lawsuit over viral Usher concert moment
Shannon Sharpe gets a major court update after $20 million lawsuit over viral Usher concert moment (Image via Getty) Shannon Sharpe lawsuit dismissed after $20 million defamation case filed by Jimalita Tillman over viral Usher concert video. On August 7, 2025, a Chicago federal court officially ended the legal fight between Jimalita Tillman, a cultural center director, and Shannon Sharpe, a retired NFL star and podcast host. Jimalita Tillman had accused Shannon Sharpe and his co-host Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson of falsely claiming she was married during her flirty on-stage moment with singer Usher in April. The judge closed the case with no money awarded, and Jimalita Tillman later said she was satisfied with the result. What sparked the $20 million lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe and Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson In April 2025, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson spoke about a viral moment at an Usher concert in London, where Jimalita Tillman, seated in the front row, received a cherry from Usher and shared a flirty glance. On their Nightcap podcast, Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson suggested Jimalita Tillman was married or divorced because of that moment. Jimalita Tillman says she was single and never married. That statement caught fire on social media, and she felt it damaged her work at the Harold Washington Cultural Center and her role in homeschooling advocacy. She tried to reach Sharpe and Johnson to fix the claim but got no reply. Also Read: Travis Kelce And Taylor Swift Misses Family Funeral While Jason Kelce Stands Alone How Jimalita Tillman responded after the court dismissed the $20M lawsuit Jimalita Tillman, a Chicago arts administrator and single mother, filed her lawsuit on April 24, 2025, first in Cook County court. It quickly moved to federal court in Chicago. Jimalita Tillman asked for $20 million in damages. On August 7, 2025, a judge dismissed the case 'without an award of fees or cost to any party'; neither side had to pay legal fees. Afterward, Jimalita Tillman said , 'I am pleased with the outcome. We were able to put this matter behind us without a long‑drawn‑out court matter. We look forward to future discussions about the positive contributions Mr. Sharpe and I both make to the community. I wish him, his family, and his business endeavors continued success.' The case is now officially closed, with both sides walking away without further legal action. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"I'm tired of being the punchline": Shannon Sharpe dragged into new legal mess as defamation accuser breaks silence on how her life changed
Shannon Sharpe's accuser has broken her silence.(Image via Paras Griffin/Getty) Shannon Sharpe, the NFL legend, has now been fired from ESPN after reaching a settlement with the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her. But now, Shannon Sharpe has been dragged into a new controversy as the NFL legend's company has been sued for defamation by businesswoman Jimalita Tillman and she has finally spoken about it. Jimalita Tillman breaks her silence on how her life changed after Shannon Sharpe spoke about false stories related to her life Businesswoman Jimalita Tillman appeared on the popular podcast, The Morning Hustle, and broke her silence on how her life changed because of Shannon Sharpe. Jimalita Tillman Opens Up on $20M Lawsuit in Morning Hustle Exclusive Jimalita Tillman said, 'It shows how much disregard they (Shannon Sharpe and Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson) have for being able to have journalistic integrity of researching the facts,' Jimalita Tillman added, 'I'm a private citizen, and in the rules when it comes to that… you better fact check and double check what you're saying…I'm not a public figure. Every time I enter a meeting for funding, for programming, and activations and things, it comes up. I'm tired of being the punchline when it comes to that aspect.' For the unversed, in April 2025, Shannon Sharpe and his co-host on Nightcap podcast, Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson, spoke about how Jimalita Tillman attended a concert of Usher in London and tried to interact with the singer. As per Shannon Sharpe, the interaction with Usher had cost Jimalita Tillman her marriage as her husband was reportedly angry about it and divorced her. But shockingly, Jimalita Tillman is not married and did nt=ot have a husband when she attended the concert. This led Jimalita Tillman to sue Shannon Sharpe's company, Shay Shay Media, for defamation as she filed a lawsuit worth $20 million. Apparently, Jimalita Tillman had tried to contact Shannon Sharpe and Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson to take down the segment related to her in their popular podcast but neither of the NFL legends responded to her. Shannon Sharpe is facing a huge career change after being fired by ESPN Shannon Sharpe's career has been involved in a huge scandal since the beginning of this year after he was sued for $50 million after an OnlyFans model accused him of sexually assaulting her. The $50 million lawsuit has now been settled but Shannon Sharpe has been fired from ESPN. Also Read: "He's not a victim": Shannon Sharpe gets brutally slammed as his interview about "dating young girls" with Mo'Nique resurfaces amid ESPN firing Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Jimalita Tillman? The arts leader suing Shannon Sharpe over Usher concert defamation
Jimalita Tillman, a prominent arts executive known for her work at Chicago's Harold Washington Cultural Center, is suing Shannon Sharpe for defamation (Image via IG) Jimalita Tillman isn't just a name caught in the whirlwind of celebrity gossip—she's a trailblazing arts executive, educator, and cultural advocate with deep roots in Chicago's creative community. As the longtime Executive Director of the Harold Washington Cultural Center (HWCC), Tillman has devoted her life to empowering underrepresented voices, developing youth arts programming, and promoting Black excellence through performance and education. But now, she's making headlines for an entirely different reason—filing a defamation lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer turned media commentator, Shannon Sharpe. The Usher moment that spiraled into internet chaos It all began with what was supposed to be a joyful, empowering moment. On April 2, 2025, during an Usher concert, Tillman was chosen from the crowd for an impromptu serenade by the R&B superstar. As she recalled, 'He wasn't even supposed to stop where we were! It was like magnetic. And he smells like vacation. So he brought me closer and I locked in. I brought out all the Broadway magic that I had, but it was easy!' But soon after the video went viral, rumors swirled online—baseless claims that Tillman was a married woman and that her husband had filed for divorce over her interaction with Usher. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How Ken Koh revived ailing family business in S'pore to produce the 'Rolls-Royce' of soya sauce CNA Read More Undo Shannon Sharpe, via his popular podcast and social media accounts, amplified the rumor, joking and speculating about the incident without verifying the facts. According to Tillman, this triggered a flood of online harassment and reputational damage. A decorated arts leader fighting back Jimalita Tillman comes from a family of civil rights leaders and educators. At HWCC, she's mentored countless young performers, partnered with Broadway professionals, and championed arts access in underserved communities. She's a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and has performed professionally in musical theater—often blending activism with artistry. Now, Tillman is taking a stand against misinformation. In her lawsuit, she accuses Sharpe of defamation and 'reckless disregard for the truth.' Despite going public to correct the false narrative—'I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce'—the rumors continued to circulate. Still, she remains focused: 'I am a retired homeschool mom looking to expand the arts here and across the pond. I am single. You got a cherry, give me a jingle.' Also Read: Shannon Sharpe slapped with $20M lawsuit for trashing woman at an Usher concert just days after dodging $50M assault case Through it all, Jimalita Tillman continues to embody the very grace and power she brings to the stage—fighting to reclaim her narrative and defend her legacy in the face of viral misinformation. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Daily Mail
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Shannon Sharpe hit with fresh $20m lawsuit after being fired by ESPN in wake of rape settlement
Shannon Sharpe is at the center of a new $20million lawsuit after being accused of defamation by a woman who went viral for her behavior at an Usher concert earlier this year. The former NFL tight end and TV personality, who was fired by ESPN this week, recently settled a $50million rape lawsuit filed against him by one of his ex-girlfriends back in April. Despite the settlement, ESPN have relieved Sharpe, 57, of his duties almost two years since prizing him away from rivals Fox Sports. And according to The US Sun, he has now been hit with a new lawsuit after being sued for $20m by Jimalita Tillman - a woman from Chicago who went viral after a flirty moment with Usher at one of his concerts in April. Tillman - who is said to be suing Sharpe, his 'Nightcap' podcast co-host Chad Johnson and its production company, Shay Shay Media - alleges the hosts knowingly peddled a false narrative about her marital status. Her steamy interaction with Usher caused a stir on social media at the time, with fans picking up on the intensity between them at the concert. The former ESPN star claimed Tillman's husband was leaving her after the steamy moment at Usher's concert, which went viral online. She alleges that she was not married at the time Though despite her claims that she is not married, Sharpe and Johnson joked that Tillman's 'husband' was divorcing on the back of the viral clip. In court papers, she reportedly alleged: 'On April 2, 2025 I participated in a fan engagement moment at a Usher Raymond concert where I interacted with the artist as a selected audience member. 'Following this event, the defendants made and disseminated false and defamatory statements suggesting that I was married and that my husband was filing for divorce due to my participation in this audience experience, I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce. Tillman continued: 'I was not married at the time of the fan participation moment during the Usher concert. 'The defendants' false narratives were shared widely across their platforms, reaching millions of followers, viral spread and refutation efforts, despite my clear and public reputation of the false narrative.' Tillman, a single mother and global director for the Harold Washington Cultural Center, claims she went on national media shows to refute the allegations made by Sharpe and Johnson. 'The defendants continued to post the defamatory content across their social media platforms,' she added. 'I made numerous efforts to contact the defendants to request the removal of this false narrative, but these requests were disregarded.' Tillman said the false statements have caused 'significant harm to my character and reputation.' She is reportedly seeking $20m in damages. has reached out to Shannon Sharpe's legal team for comment. Sharpe was previously sued for defamation by Brett Favre over comments he made about the Green Bay Packers legend's connection to a welfare misspending case during an episode of Fox Sports' Undisputed in 2022. Favre characterized the comments as 'egregiously false.' However, a judge dismissed the case against him in 2022 after ruling that they were protected under the US Constitution. Sharpe has been embroiled in controversy this year after a woman, identified as one of his ex-girlfriends, accused him of raping her on two occasions over the course of their relationship in a bombshell lawsuit. The First Take star, who denied the allegations, stepped away from his part-time duties with ESPN and vowed to return later in the year once he had proved his innocence. Yet just weeks after the accuser reached a settlement and retracted the allegations, it was revealed on Wednesday that he has been fired by ESPN after almost two years. Sharpe addressed his shock departure later in the evening, saying at the start of his 'Nightcap' podcast : 'Obviously, I'm sure everybody's heard the news by now that I will not be returning to ESPN. 'I found out this information a little earlier in the week, and really the only thing that I really asked is, "Guys, could we wait until Monday? My brother's going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I really want it to be about him and I want it to be about my family." 'I said, "This coming out will overshadow everything he's worked his entire life for." And unfortunately it didn't happen that way.' Sharpe's younger brother, Sterling, is set to be officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at an enshrinement ceremony in Canton, Ohio next week, 14 years after his older sibling received the same honor. Sterling, 60, spent all seven years of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, where he became a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro wide receiver while leading the league in receptions in three separate seasons. Shannon is a three-time Super Bowl champion who enjoyed two successful stints with the Denver Broncos and a brief spell with the Baltimore Ravens in his 13-year career. After stressing that he 'really enjoyed' his time with ESPN and that he was 'very, very grateful for the opportunity', Sharpe stressed that he was disappointed to upstage his brother with the news of his axing. 'They did what they felt they needed to do, and I'm at peace with that,' he added about his now-former employers. 'But I just wish this thing could have waited until Monday, because I hate the fact that I've overshadowed my brother.
