Shannon Sharpe, the former NFL Hall of Famer and high-profile sports commentator, is facing a second serious legal challenge involving allegations of sexual assault. Michele Evans, who says she was in a long-term relationship with Sharpe, has filed a lawsuit detailing a violent sexual assault she claims occurred in 2010—adding to the growing controversy surrounding the embattled media figure.
This new lawsuit, filed in 2023 under New York City’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act, accuses Sharpe not only of rape but also of engaging in retaliation, defamation, and a campaign of intimidation to silence Evans after the alleged assault.
Alleged Assault in 2010: “He Forced Me to My Knees”
According to court documents and public interviews, Evans says the assault took place after an argument over Sharpe’s alleged infidelity. She claims the encounter escalated when Sharpe forced her to perform non-consensual oral sex, then raped her while delivering a disturbing threat: “I’m going to make it so no other man will want you.”
Evans described the experience as deeply traumatic and degrading, asserting that the former athlete used his physical power and public influence to control and silence her.
Threats and Intimidation
Following the incident, Evans claims she tried to speak out, but was met with direct threats. She says Sharpe warned her that if she exposed the assault, he would “destroy” her life.
In one chilling account, Evans recounts how an unidentified man approached her basement apartment and told her to “shut up,” using profanity. Fearing for the safety of her child, Evans says she withdrew a restraining order she had filed against Sharpe in 2010.
“I couldn’t risk my child’s life,” she told The U.S. Sun.
Ongoing Defamation and Retaliation
Evans’ 2023 lawsuit extends beyond the initial allegations of rape, accusing Sharpe of libel, slander, and ongoing emotional harm. She says that after their relationship ended, Sharpe continued to damage her reputation by calling her unstable and making disparaging remarks through media and private channels.
These actions, she claims, have further deepened her trauma and stigmatized her publicly.
Sharpe Denies Allegations, Steps Away from ESPN
Sharpe and his legal team have denied all accusations, characterizing them as falsehoods designed to extort money and tarnish his legacy. In response to the mounting legal pressure, Sharpe has announced a leave of absence from ESPN, where he co-hosted a high-profile sports talk show.
Sources say the decision was mutual, as the lawsuits began to overshadow the network’s coverage.
In a counter-move, Sharpe’s representatives have released private communications between him and his accusers in an effort to portray the relationships as consensual—though critics argue that such evidence fails to address the serious allegations of coercion and sexual violence.
A Broader Reckoning
The unfolding cases against Shannon Sharpe have ignited a wider discussion about abuse of power, celebrity accountability, and the challenges faced by survivors of gender-based violence. Social media reactions have ranged from disbelief to solidarity with the women coming forward.
With multiple lawsuits now in play and Sharpe’s career at a crossroads, the legal proceedings ahead are expected to bring more evidence to light—and may determine the fate of one of sports media’s most recognizable figures.
