NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has responded to a lawsuit in which he's accused of rape and sexual assault.

According to PEOPLE, a woman, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against Sharpe in Nevada state court, alleging that the former NFL star raped her several times during their nearly two-year "rocky consensual relationship."

"A woman can say 'yes' to consensual sexual relations with a man ninety-nine times, but when she says 'no' even once, that 'no' means no," the lawsuit states. "Defendant Shannon Sharpe, a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants, completely fails to understand this basic concept."

In the lawsuit, the woman claims she initially met Sharpe in 2023 at a gym in Los Angeles when she was 22. The plaintiff states that Sharpe made multiple advances toward her during their run-ins at the gym before she eventually gave in.

The suit accuses the Club Shay Shay podcast host of becoming violent and threatening to kill Jane Doe after she showed up late to his home for a scheduled meet-up.

In 2024, the two individually moved to Nevada, according to the suit. The woman claims in October 2024 that Sharpe forced her into a car and took her to her apartment, where he made her perform oral sex before anally raping her.

"Sharpe grabbed her head, forcing her to look at him as she sobbed," the lawsuit states. "He said at that point: 'Look at this. Look at my arm. I’ve got chills. That’s how good this is.'"

In an alleged January 2025 incident, Sharpe asked the plaintiff if he could come to her apartment to gift her a combined Christmas and birthday present. Jane Doe claims that he again sexually assaulted her and refused to wear a condom.

The ESPN personality and his attorney, Lanny Davis, responded to the suit and adamantly denied the allegations. In a social media post, Sharpe's team described the lawsuit as a shakedown attempt led by attorney Tony Buzbee, who is representing Jane Doe. Buzbee was also retained by clients accusing Diddy and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct.

Sharpe also shared sexually explicit text messages from Jane Doe that show a "broader pattern of graphic, sexual communications initiated by" the accuser, according to Davis.

"The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios."

"Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — especially the gross lie of 'rape' — and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail," Davis said in a statement. "He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law."

Bev Johnson