Shannon Sharpe is facing a $20 million lawsuit from a woman who says he falsely accused her of being married and shamed her publicly after a viral concert moment with Usher.
In court docs obtained by The U.S. Sun, Jimalita Tillman claims Sharpe, his Nightcap podcast co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, and their production company, Shay Shay Media, spread a false narrative about her after she was seen sharing a lively moment with Usher during one of his concerts.
Tillman says she was single during the event, but alleges Sharpe wrongly told listeners she was married and that her husband filed for divorce because of the interaction. She says the podcast’s hosts “knowingly propagated a false narrative” and ignored multiple requests to correct it.
Shannon Sharpe got another lawsuit alongside Chad Ochocinco.
They’re both being sued for 20 million over a viral Usher video for allegedly saying she was a married woman and husband was filing for divorce over the video. pic.twitter.com/OhBeGNGuil
— Boochie is the Name (@stoppfeenin) July 31, 2025
“Their continued dissemination of these false statements after I publicly clarified my marital status demonstrates a reckless disregard for the truth. The ongoing misinformation has resulted in emotional distress for the plaintiff, damaged her reputation and adversely affected her personal and professional relationships,” Tillman alleged. Despite appearing in national media to set the record straight, Tillman says the podcast continued to spread the misinformation. Tillman, a single mom whose daughter earned her doctorate as a teen, is now seeking $20 million in damages.
“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,” they said in a statement
Neither Sharpe nor Johnson has publicly commented on the lawsuit.
The lawsuit follows Sharpe’s recent departure from ESPN after settling a separate $50 million lawsuit with a woman who accused him of rape.