Let’s talk about it

“Oyez, oyez” — court is in session. Literally. And it’s messier than a Maury rerun.

Shannon Sharpe, Hall of Famer turned ESPN’s favorite loudmouth uncle, is facing a $50 million lawsuit over rape and abuse allegations. What’s worse?

It’s coming from a 22-year-old woman named Gabriella Zuniga (yes, we have the tea).

The better question is, are you ready to see what we’ve found?

Let’s dive in

But before we do…

If you like your news short, sharp, and a little messy, you’ll love The Mop Up.We cover the biggest stories without the boring lectures — just the good stuff, once a week. All wrapped into one single email straight to your inbox.

For just $3 a month, you get:

• Quick hits on everything trending so you’re always in the loop

• All news across all sectors like politics, sports, pop culture and more

• Zero fluff — accurate news

Plus, you can try it FREE for 7 days here.

So what’s happening?

A better question is “what isn’t happening.”

Shay Shay be in them DMs mane. And him and Zuniga were doing a thang! A very racially kinky thang at least? We’ll let the screenshots speak for themselves (because they’re loud).

AYO!

Procreation racial anal play is crazy. Freaky Gabby’s out here hitting all the wrong notes on the racial harmony scale—but hey, we’re not the kink police.

And Shay Shay? Well...

We do judge but technically he’s innocent until proven guilty.

Which reminds me…

Sexual misconduct and the court of public opinion

Sexual harassment isn’t new—but the way we talk about it is.

For decades, women have been dodging creepy coworkers, unsolicited “compliments,” and full-on violations just to make it through a shift, a shoot, or a stroll down the street.

The #MeToo movement cracked the dam, but let’s not kid ourselves like the flood’s over. If anything, we’re just now seeing how deep the water really runs.

From boardrooms to bathrooms to the “hey you got a second?” DMs, the issue isn’t just happening—it’s everywhere. And while more people are getting called out, the daily wear-and-tear of being a woman in these spaces is still exhausting.

So where do you stand on all of this? Or maybe a bigger question is, where should you stand?

This situation is a unique one because we don’t have enough information (yet) about who to trust.

On one hand we have Zuniga, someone who is more than half Shannon’s age. And a rumored OnlyFans model (not that we should judge her for that).

And the other hand is Shannon, a burly NFL Hall of Famer turned podcaster whose shirt is so tight you gotta monitor his breathing.

It’s an odd pairing, but maybe that’s why the whole thing makes sense. There could have been a fascination between the two that sparked their initial romance.

We’re obviously speculating and shooting a lot of bail when we say this.

Either way, Zuniga says Sharpe used force, emotionally wrecked her, and raped her—twice—during their nearly two-year situationship that allegedly started when she was 20.

Those accusations alone are scary.

Of course, Shannon says it's cap and is basically calling the entire thing a “shakedown” from a bitter ex who’s trying to cash out.

But that’s not gonna stop social media from roasting him for over a week now.

So who’s telling the truth? Who’s lying?

As of right now we have no idea. We’ve got a rebuttal statement from Shay Shay himself that was posted on X a little over a week ago (see above).

Until we receive more information, there’s no reason to discount Zuniga. What we do know is that Shannon is stepping away from ESPN, promising to be back in time for preseason like nothing happened.

Ok king? Maybe he’s taking some time to reflect. We don’t know yet.

Some background

What we do know is Shannon Sharpe didn’t come out of nowhere. Not only is he a Hall of Fame NFL tight end — he’s one of the few athletes who went from a football legend to a full-blown media powerhouse. Whether you’re familiar with him are not, he’s a pillar.

Sharpe eventually brought his no-holds-barred opinions to TV screens on shows like Undisputed where he traded jabs with Skip Bayless.

But he didn’t stop there. He then started a podcast, Club Shay Shay, which has become a blueprint for athletes looking to springboard themselves into media.

Club Shay Shay is starting to feel like your horny uncle

You know the one — chill, fun to be around, can hold a convo without embarrassing himself... until he gets one or two beers deep.

Then suddenly it’s all Freaknik flashbacks, who had the biggest booty in the '80s, and which new freak anthem has the ladies twerking in 2025.

It’s still funny at first, but after a while, you’re like, "Alright, Unc. Chill."That’s the crossroads Shay finds himself at. Will fans keep laughing with him, or start cringing at the overshare?

Want better, more informative news? Unlock entertainment news as soon as it drops for just $3 a month 

Where does Shay go from here?

It’s tough to say. Sharpe’s career has been on an insane upward swing — Club Shay Shay is pulling record numbers, he’s got a growing brand, and new media deals are likely circling. But situations like this crack open a real risk: public trust.

Blackmail or even just the appearance of it can stain a public figure’s brand in ways that don’t always bounce back cleanly.

And right now while fans love Sharpe for being genuine, unfiltered, and real — if that relationship feels threatened, some might quietly dip.

The real question now is: does Shay ride the wave and double down on transparency, or will he have to fight harder than ever to keep his new seat at the pop culture table?

Guess we’ll see.

What do you think?

What do you think of the Shannon Sharpe situation?

• He's gonna be fine! 😏

• Honestly, I kinda believe the allegations 🤷‍♂️

• He really needs to stop swirling🌀

• It's over. He's cooked. 👨‍🍳

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Like what you just read? Then you’ll love The Mop Up. One email. All the juiciest stories. Delivered weekly, starting at just $3 a month. Save yourself the time. Avoid the dirty work—let us dig up the mess and deliver the most entertaining news roundup you’ll find in your inbox. One email. All the juiciest stories. Join here to unlock your first issue.