After months of intense speculation and disturbing allegations, former NFL star and media personality Shannon Sharpe has reached a confidential resolution in the explosive $50 million lawsuit filed against him by Gabriella Zuniga, a young OnlyFans model who had accused him of sexual misconduct, intimidation, and abuse.
Attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented Sharpe, broke the silence Friday, July 18, with a carefully worded statement that confirmed the legal saga had come to an end—but not without a twist.
“Mr. Sharpe and Ms. Zuniga shared a consensual and tumultuous relationship,” Buzbee said. “The matters raised in the lawsuit have been resolved in a satisfactory manner, and the case will be dismissed with prejudice.”
That final phrase—with prejudice—means the claims cannot be brought again.
But for many observers, questions linger about what really happened behind closed doors and what led both parties to walk away from such a high-profile, high-stakes courtroom clash.
From Allegations to Accusations
Zuniga filed the civil suit in April, leveling multiple allegations of sexual assault, emotional manipulation, and coercion, supported by text messages and a recorded phone call that quickly circulated online. The public response was immediate and polarizing.
Sharpe, who at the time called the lawsuit a “shakedown attempt,” did not back down. He countered with his own set of text messages and claimed that the relationship had been consensual and based in part on BDSM dynamics—a revelation that shifted public debate but did not stop legal proceedings.
Legal experts watched the case closely, citing its complexity as a potential flashpoint in conversations around consent, public figures, and intimate power dynamics.
The involvement of high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee only raised the stakes.
What the Dismissal Means
Though the lawsuit is now closed, the sealed nature of the resolution leaves much unsaid. With no public record of a monetary settlement and both sides apparently agreeing to cease litigation, legal analysts are speculating that a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may have been part of the final deal.
“This kind of dismissal typically suggests both sides saw something to lose in airing the full facts in open court,” said a civil litigation attorney familiar with similar celebrity cases.
Legal and Public Fallout
Despite no criminal charges being filed, the public backlash from the initial filing temporarily clouded Sharpe’s media presence.
Some sponsors and platforms paused their promotion of his content, and legal commentators warned the case could redefine how courts and the public view power dynamics in relationships between celebrities and online creators.
Now, with the case dismissed and no further legal action expected, Sharpe appears poised to move on. But the story has left a lingering tension over what really transpired—and what was ultimately negotiated behind the scenes.
