The Mounting Allegations Against Shannon Sharpe Spark New Legal Response
The mounting wave of allegations against Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe is expanding, and now his legal team is stepping up to address the latest accusations coming to light.
As reported by The U.S. Sun, Michele Bundy Evans filed a lawsuit against Sharpe in 2023, accusing him of defamation over remarks Sharpe allegedly made after she secured a restraining order against him more than a decade ago.
The article breaks down some unsettling allegations involving a supposed sexual assault that went down back in 2010 between Evans and Sharpe.
This lawsuit has pushed Sharpe’s legal team to drop a brand-new statement aimed directly at these claims.
“It should be of no surprise that when someone famous is in the news, all sorts of people crawl out of the woodwork to share their connection to that person in an attempt to profit from that alleged relationship,” Sharpe’s attorney Mitchell Schuster said.
“In many cases those stories or accusations are nothing more than old news, fanciful exaggerations, or sometimes blatant misrepresentations of fact. They are shared on social media or fed to reporters with intentional factual omissions and no regard for the truth. This is obviously purposeful, designed to create a fabricated narrative. This is exactly what is happening to Shannon Sharpe and the resurrection of the case involving Michele Evans is a perfect example.”
Schuster didn’t hold back, claiming Evans “became obsessed” with Sharpe, manufactured a story, and even tried filing a lawsuit on her own after failing to find a lawyer willing to take the case.
“The fact is that Shannon has had no contact with this person for many years and it is our understanding that she is still on probation after serving 3 years in prison for trying to kill her husband so that she could hopefully pursue a relationship with Shannon,” Schuster added.
New Lawsuit Mentions Evans’ Case, Adding Fuel to the Fire
The drama didn’t end there.
According to court documents, Evans’ case popped up again — this time referenced in a new lawsuit filed against Sharpe on April 20, 2025. The mention came tucked inside a footnote on page 4 of the latest complaint.
Schuster, still standing ten toes down behind Sharpe, pointed fingers at another woman — Gabi a/k/a Karli — for allegedly pulling the same moves as Evans.
“Following in Ms. Evan’s footsteps, Gabi a/k/a Karli is the latest person trying to exploit her connection with Shannon,” Schuster stated.
“From the onset, Shannon has been crystal clear about the nature of his relationship with Gabi Zuniga. For the sake of clarity, please allow me to repeat his position. Shannon and Gabi engaged in a consensual sexual relationship over a 2-year period. When she learned that he would not father a child with her, she resorted to extortion.”
Schuster continued, revealing that Sharpe was originally willing to pay her “a substantial amount of money” to keep his personal life out the streets — a move common among high-profile celebrities dealing with extortion attempts. But that option is off the table now.
“This is a shakedown, pure and simple, and we have the evidence to prove it. And while there are certainly real victims of sexual assault whose stories deserve to be told; Gabi is not one of them and her attempt to extort Shannon with her false claims only serves to distract from the attention that real abuse victims deserve,” Schuster declared.
Attorney Slams Extortion Claims and Plans to Fight Back in Court
Schuster laid it all the way out in his statement, making it crystal clear that Sharpe plans to put up a real fight.
“Bottom line,” Schuster said, “Shannon has done nothing wrong and intends to fight back against these malicious lies not with manufactured defenses or imaginary stories but with documentary proof and real evidence. He intends to pursue claims against Gabi and all who have assisted her with the dissemination of her fabricated story. Shannon looks forward to his day in court where he can hold Gabi and all who are working in concert with her accountable for the opportunists that they are.”
This bold stance paints a picture of Sharpe not just defending himself — but actively going after those he feels are trying to tear down his name.
Clearing Up the ESPN Departure Rumors
While the lawsuits and drama unfold, some folks started speculating that ESPN gave Sharpe the boot from First Take.
Schuster wasn’t about to let that narrative breathe.
“For the avoidance of any doubt, Shannon Sharpe was not terminated by ESPN, but he has elected to step away for a temporary period of time from his duties so that he can focus on his family and the frivolous claim filed against him,” Schuster explained.
“ESPN agreed with his decision and Shannon plans to return to his role at ESPN for the NFL season.”
In other words — Sharpe’s ESPN career isn’t over. He’s just taking a breather until this legal cloud clears up.