Shannon Sharpe’s rape accuser released audio that allegedly captures the former NFL star saying he would “choke” her, while Sharpe vowed on Tuesday to sue for defamation over a “shakedown” attempt.
In the one minute and 36 second audio clip — which was sent to TMZ Sports by the woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee — a woman can 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 woman 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 conversation occurred toward the end of the woman’s relationship with Sharpe, according to TMZ, but the context of the verbal exchange was not made clear.
Sharpe, 56, is accused in a civil lawsuit filed Sunday in Clark County, Nev., of raping the woman in October 2024 and in January. He is also accused of threatening the woman, according to the lawsuit, which seeks $50 million in damages.
The accuser claims she met Sharpe at a Los Angeles gym in 2023 when she was 20, and that they had a “rocky consensual relationship” that lasted nearly two years.
Sharpe denied the allegations on Monday in a social-media statement, calling them an “egregious attempt at blackmail.” That statement included graphic text messages allegedly sent by the woman, including one in which she allegedly says she wanted Sharpe to “put a dog collar around my neck.”
Shortly after TMZ published the audio Tuesday, Sharpe released another denial, this time via video statement.
“This is a shakedown. I’m gonna be open, transparent, and defend myself, because this isn’t right,” Sharpe said. “This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z. Tony Buzbee targets Black men.”
Sharpe said 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 provided to TMZ is the same encounter referenced by Sharpe.
Sharpe said he plans to sue Buzbee and his accuser for defamation “for trying to take me down.”
Sharpe, a four-time All-Pro tight end, caught 815 passes for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns during a 14-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens from 1990-2003.
The three-time Super Bowl champion was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
Sharpe has since become a prominent sports-talk personality, previously with Fox Sports and now with ESPN.
With News Wire Services
