Shannon Sharpe‘s legal battle just got more complicated as an alleged audio recording of him making choking threats towards his accuser was released. Just a day after the Hall of Famer shared an official statement in his defense, the Jane Doe who filed the sexual assault and battery case against him fired back with the recording.
“You want to be a d*ck to me now so,” Sharpe is heard saying in the audio, which was released to TMZ Sports from Doe’s attorney, Tony Buzbee. Doe replies, “I don’t want to. Don’t manipulate me!”
In response, the retired NFL tight end threatened to choke her, saying, “Lord have mercy. If you say that one more time, I’m going to f**king choke the sh*t out of you when I see you.” When she replied that she didn’t want to be choked, he said to her, “Yes, you do.” Listen below.
On April 20, 2025, a 13-page civil complaint was filed in a Nevada state court accusing Sharpe of committing assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery, and that he engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress. The suit discloses the plaintiff and Sharpe entered a two-year consensual relationship, but his behavior turned abusive as he allegedly has threatened to kill the plaintiff when she attempted to share her location with friends, raped her, and sexually assaulted her multiple times.
In the response statement released on April 21, Sharpe’s attorney’s vehemently denied the accusations and said the entire situation is “a shake down.” His counsel, Lanny J. Davis & Associates, revealed in the document that the woman’s name is allegedly Gabriella Zuniga. They argued she is lying and attempting to extort Sharpe for millions, and even shared intensely sexual texts that were allegedly exchanged between the now former couple.
The messages were shared to show the alleged “broader pattern of graphic sexual communications initiated by Ms. Zuniga” and that the scenarios were “explicitly requested” by her.
“I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while you’re f**king me,” reads one alleged text sent by Zuniga to Sharpe, Oct. 7, 2023. Another mentions a price tag in exchange for pleasure, reading, “I know u miss this big juicy a**…$25k for each cheek” sent on New Years Day 2025. On Aug. 11, 2024, she allegedly sent, “You better crave it cuz ur gonna be stuck with it 4 life after you put a big black baby in me.” Read Sharpe’s statement below and hear the recording above.
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