Shannon Sharpe’s legal team has issued a forceful statement denying the allegations made against the former NFL star and current ESPN commentator, calling the claims “blatant misrepresentations of fact” and part of a calculated attempt to extort him.
Attorney Mitchell Schuster, representing Sharpe, said in the statement that individuals from Sharpe’s past have come forward with “fanciful exaggerations” and “fabricated narratives” in an effort to profit off Sharpe’s fame. “This is exactly what is happening to Shannon Sharpe, and the resurrection of the case involving Michele Evans is a perfect example,” Schuster said.
Evans, who previously filed a civil complaint against Sharpe, is described by the legal team as someone who became “obsessed with Shannon” and attempted to pursue a relationship with him after serving prison time for trying to kill her husband. The statement asserts that Sharpe has had no contact with Evans in years and that her complaint is “completely devoid of merit.”
The statement also addresses the more recent and widely publicized allegations from Gabi Zuniga, who accused Sharpe of sexual misconduct. According to Sharpe’s legal counsel, he and Zuniga were involved in a consensual two-year relationship, but when Sharpe refused to father a child with her, she allegedly attempted to extort him.
“This is a shakedown, pure and simple and we have the evidence to prove it,” the statement read. “While Shannon was willing to pay her a substantial amount of money to avoid the intimate details of his personal life from being exposed, that is no longer the case.”
The statement emphasizes that Zuniga’s actions “distract from the attention that real abuse victims deserve” and says Sharpe will pursue legal action against Zuniga and anyone who assisted in spreading her claims. “He intends to fight back not with manufactured defenses or imaginary stories but with documentary proof and real evidence,” Schuster added.
Sharpe, who has faced mounting public scrutiny over the past few weeks, has not been terminated by ESPN, the statement confirmed. Instead, he has voluntarily stepped away from his role to focus on the ongoing legal matter and his family. “ESPN agreed with his decision,” the statement said. “Shannon plans to return for the NFL season.”
The legal team concluded by affirming Shannon Sharpe’s commitment to clearing his name in court and holding accountable those involved in what it described as a coordinated effort to damage his reputation.