Shannon Sharpe’s Legal Team Releases Statement Following Ex-Girlfriend’s Resurfaced Allegations and New $50M Lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe’s legal team has issued a new statement defending the NFL Hall of Famer against resurfaced allegations from a former girlfriend and a newly filed $50 million lawsuit by a woman identified as Gabi Zuniga, also known as Karli.

In the statement released by attorney Mitchell Schuster, Sharpe’s legal counsel says the recent headlines are the result of individuals attempting to exploit their past relationships with Sharpe for personal gain.

“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,” the statement reads. “In many cases those stories or accusations are nothing more than old news, fanciful exaggerations, or sometimes blatant misrepresentations of fact.”

Schuster pointed to Michele Evans, a woman who previously filed a civil suit against Sharpe in 2023, accusing him of sexual assault and defamation after she was granted a restraining order. According to the statement, Sharpe has had “no contact with this person for many years.” The statement describes Evans as “obsessed with Shannon” and claims she “decided to manufacture a claim against him.” Schuster says the woman is “still on probation after serving three years in prison for trying to kill her husband so that she could hopefully pursue a relationship with Shannon.”

Turning to the more recent civil suit, Sharpe’s legal team labeled the $50 million case filed by Zuniga as a clear attempt at extortion. “Shannon and Gabi engaged in a consensual sexual relationship over a two-year period,” the statement continues. “When she learned that he would not father a child with her, she resorted to extortion.”

While Sharpe initially considered settling the matter privately to protect his personal life, his legal team now says he is prepared to fight back publicly. “This is a shakedown, pure and simple and we have the evidence to prove it,” they said. “He intends to pursue claims against Gabi and all who have assisted her with the dissemination of her fabricated story.”

The statement also addressed recent speculation around Sharpe’s status at ESPN, following his announcement that he would step away from his duties. Schuster confirmed that Sharpe was not terminated.

“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 wrote. “Shannon plans to return to his role at ESPN for the NFL season.”

Sharpe has denied all allegations of wrongdoing and maintains that both legal matters are baseless. He is preparing to defend himself in court with what his legal team describes as “documentary proof and real evidence.”