Shannon Sharpe’s rape accuser launched audio that allegedly captures the previous NFL star saying he would “choke” her, whereas Sharpe vowed on Tuesday to sue for defamation over a “shakedown” try.
Within the one minute and 36 second audio clip — which was despatched to TMZ Sports activities by the lady’s legal professional, Tony Buzbee — a girl may be heard saying, “Don’t manipulate me.”
A male voice, allegedly belonging to Sharpe, then replies, “If you say that word one more time, I’m going to f–king choke the s–t out of you when I see you.”
The girl says, “I don’t want to be choked,” to which the male voice responds, “Yes, you do. I don’t think you have a choice in the matter.”
Buzbee claims the dialog occurred towards the tip of the lady’s relationship with Sharpe, in accordance with TMZ, however the context of the verbal alternate was not made clear.
Sharpe, 56, is accused in a civil lawsuit filed Sunday in Clark County, Nev., of raping the lady in October 2024 and in January. He’s additionally accused of threatening the lady, in accordance with the lawsuit, which seeks $50 million in damages.
The accuser claims she met Sharpe at a Los Angeles fitness center in 2023 when she was 20, and that that they had a “rocky consensual relationship” that lasted almost two years.
Sharpe denied the allegations on Monday in a social-media assertion, calling them an “egregious attempt at blackmail.” That assertion included graphic textual content messages allegedly despatched by the lady, together with one during which she allegedly says she wished Sharpe to “put a dog collar around my neck.”
Shortly after TMZ revealed the audio Tuesday, Sharpe launched one other denial, this time through video assertion.
“This is a shakedown. I’m gonna be open, transparent, and defend myself, because this isn’t right,” Sharpe mentioned. “This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z. Tony Buzbee targets Black men.”
Sharpe mentioned he believed Buzbee was “going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty.”
“That video should actually be 10 minutes or so,” Sharpe continued. “Hey Tony, instead of releasing your edit, put the whole video out. I don’t have it, or I would myself.”
Sharpe went on to say that the “encounter in question took place during the day at [the woman’s] invitation, and now that appears to be a deliberate setup.”
It’s unclear if the audio clip offered to TMZ is similar encounter referenced by Sharpe.
Sharpe mentioned he plans to sue Buzbee and his accuser for defamation “for trying to take me down.”
Sharpe, a four-time All-Professional tight finish, caught 815 passes for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns throughout a 14-year NFL profession with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens from 1990-2003.
The three-time Tremendous Bowl champion was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2011.
Sharpe has since turn into a outstanding sports-talk persona, beforehand with Fox Sports activities and now with ESPN.
Initially Revealed: April 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM EDT
