Shannon Sharpe and his co-host on ‘Nightcap,’ Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, are reportedly embroiled in a significant legal battle, facing a staggering $20 million lawsuit filed by a woman who alleges they disseminated damaging falsehoods about her personal life after she became the center of attention during a Usher concert. Jimalita Tillman claims the two public figures wrongfully asserted that she was married and made jokes about her “husband” being ready to leave her, following her flirtatious encounter with the R&B star. Tillman contends that these statements severely harmed her reputation, prompting her to seek a hefty $20 million in damages. Here’s a detailed overview of the situation…

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Woman Files $20 Million Lawsuit Against Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson Over False Marriage Allegations

Jimalita Tillman has officially initiated a $20 million lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson, and the podcast production company, Shay Shay Media. This legal dispute ignited after Tillman experienced a flirty moment with Usher during his concert in London on April 2, which quickly went viral across social media platforms. However, Tillman asserts that Sharpe and Johnson misrepresented the facts on their podcast, wrongfully claiming she was married and suggesting that her husband intended to file for divorce due to her interactions at the concert.

According to court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun, Tillman expressed:

“Following this event, the defendants made and disseminated false and defamatory statements suggesting that I was married and that my husband was filing for divorce due to my participation in this audience experience. I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce.”

She emphasized that she was single at the time she attended the Usher concert. Additionally, Tillman alleged that the misleading narrative proliferated across the defendants’ platforms, reaching millions of viewers, despite her attempts to clarify the situation and correct the misinformation.

Accuser Claims She Repeatedly Requested Removal of Defamatory Content Without Response from Sharpe’s Team

Jimalita Tillman did not remain silent while her name was tarnished by the public discourse. She asserts that she made multiple attempts to contact Shannon Sharpe, Chad Johnson, and Shay Shay Media to demand the removal of the defamatory content. Unfortunately, her requests were ignored. “I made numerous efforts to contact the defendants to request the removal of this false narrative, but these requests were disregarded,” she stated in her court filings. The defendants allegedly continued to share the misleading claims on their various social media channels, further compounding the damage to her reputation.

The Chicago native contends that these untrue statements have inflicted significant harm on her “character and reputation.” She further declared, “Their continued dissemination of these false statements after I publicly clarified my marital status demonstrates a reckless disregard for the truth.” Tillman argued that the spread of misinformation has resulted in “emotional distress” and adversely affected her public image. Consequently, she is pursuing $20 million in damages.

Recent Legal Troubles for Shannon Sharpe Following ESPN Split After Settlement of Rape Allegation Lawsuit

This lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe is not the only legal challenge he has been facing lately. Just a few days prior to the filing of Tillman’s lawsuit, ESPN made the decision to part ways with the NFL Hall of Famer on Wednesday, July 30. This decision followed the settlement of a separate, high-profile $50 million lawsuit that accused Sharpe of rape. Reports from The Athletic revealed that Sharpe, who joined ESPN’s ‘First Take’ in 2023, had not been on air since April when the serious allegations first emerged.

The lawsuit was initiated by a woman named Gabriella Zuniga, who alleged sexual assault and battery occurring between late 2024 and early 2025. Sharpe has denied these allegations, referring to the case as a “shakedown,” and ultimately settled the matter earlier this month. Despite his departure from ESPN, Sharpe has remained active with his podcasts, ‘Club Shay Shay’ and ‘Nightcap,’ co-hosted alongside Johnson. However, Tillman’s lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to Sharpe’s already tumultuous legal situation. She informed The U.S. Sun:

“We’ve been in communication with the legal team of Shay Shay Media, who was also representing Shannon Sharpe. They’re looking to resolve this matter quickly, and we will probably have more to share upon our next conversation.”

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