Shannon Sharpe Pushes 2025 ‘Nightcap’ Tour with Ochocinco to 2026 as $50 Million Assault Case Looms
*Shannon Sharpe’s first national comedy-podcast road show is on ice.
During the May 23 episode of “Nightcap,” Sharpe announced that he and co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson will not hit the road in June as planned. “We’ve decided to postpone the Nightcap tour,” Sharpe said, Baller Alert reports. “We look forward to seeing you guys in the summer of 2026…But Ocho and I have come to the conclusion that this is the best thing as of right now.”
Why the pause?
Sharpe is the target of a $50 million civil lawsuit filed April 20 in Nevada. A woman identified as Jane Doe accuses him of sexual battery, rape and emotional abuse over what she calls a “rocky consensual relationship” that lasted roughly two years. The complaint claims Sharpe twice forced sex, once in January without protection, secretly recorded intimate moments, and once threatened to kill her.
Sharpe rejects every allegation. His attorney, Lanny J. Davis, dismissed the complaint, saying: “This lawsuit, filed by Gabriella Zuniga and orchestrated by her attorney Tony Buzbee, is a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars. It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed.”
pic.twitter.com/Tm1vbA3xPn
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 22, 2025
Sharpe’s legal team maintains the relationship was entirely consensual and is preparing a defense against what they claim is a meritless lawsuit. Buzbee is known for representing multiple women in high-profile cases, including those against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Sharpe has vowed to fight the allegations in court. In a video statement, he addressed the lawsuit, saying it is “being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee… Tony Buzbee targets Black men.”
Impact on Sharpe’s day jobs
Beyond canceling the tour, Sharpe is taking time away from ESPN’s First Take. As he put it, “I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues.”
What happens to tickets?
The original eight-city “Nightcap NSFW Tour” was set to open June 13 in Baltimore, followed by stops in Philadelphia, Charlotte, Detroit, Los Angeles, and three other markets. Promoters have urged fans to keep their tickets, which will be honored when the show is rescheduled for summer 2026.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Shannon Sharpe Takes Leave from ESPN Amid $50M Sexual Assault Lawsuit
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