Shannon Sharpe and Gabriella Zuniga (Photos via Twitter/X)
After having his name dragged through the mud for months, Shannon Sharpe is well and truly off the hook.

The $50 million s3xual assᴀult lawsuit against the former NFL star has been settled and is set to be dismissed with prejudice, which means the filing party cannot return to court with a pertinent complaint should there be a change of heart.

Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the plaintiff, Gabriella Zuniga, announced in a statement on Instagram this Friday that “after protracted and respectful negotiations,” Sharpe “reached a mutually agreed upon resolution” with his accuser.

 

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The details of the settlement are unknown at the moment. But Buzbee has indicated that the parties reached a mutual resolution and agreed that their relationship was consensual but tumultuous.

“All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice,” the lawyer added.

Shannon Sharpe Could Really Be Back For ESPN’s Football Coverage

Shannon Sharpe at the 56th NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)
Buzbee had previously failed to appear for Zuniga at the first hearing, a curious move on his part.

According to one source, “Judge Anna Albertson expressed her disappointment in court that no legal representation was present for the plaintiff.”

Zuniga filed the suit against Sharpe earlier this year, seeking $50 million with claims that he forced himself on her on multiple occasions. She admitted to having a consensual relationship with him, which began after they met at a gym, but said things turned sour after his leaked s3x tᴀpe.

ESPN promptly put Sharpe on ice. He stepped away from his role on ‘First Take’ but vowed to be back for the NFL preseason. And it appears he really could be back in time for 2025 NFL coverage, given this recent development.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer had always maintained his innocence and said he was looking forward to fighting the matter in court.

His battle didn’t last long.

Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup.

Joining Lorraine Kelly on Monday’s episode of the ITV show, the TV presenter, 43, also gave an health update after having two tumours removed from jaw.

Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood, in December after 10 years of marriage.

She has since made swipes at Jesse and moved on with TV director Elliot Hegarty, with the pair having been seen kissing during a recent night out.

Fearne has had a difficult few months after undergoing surgery to remove two benign tumours from her jawline, just days before her split with Jesse emerged.

She told host Lorraine: ‘It’s all very amicable and kids are doing great. I am in a very good place.’place.’

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Fearne Cotton has broken her silence on split from husband Jesse Wood in her first TV interview since the breakup

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Fearne announced her split from Jesse, the son of Rolling Stones bass guitarist Ronnie Wood , in December after 10 years of marriage (both pictured in February 2024)

Discussing her recent surgery, she added: ‘I feel very grateful to have completely recovered.

‘I feel really good. I have a lot of people reaching out who have had the same thing.’

Davina McCall, 56, announced in November she’d been diagnosed with a colloid cyst, a rare type of benign brain tumour, and has supported Fearne.

She continued: ‘Everyone needs a Davina. She’s been amazing, weird that we had the same health thing going on at the same time. She’s so calming and we speak every day. She is just the best

It comes after Fearne has seemingly made another thinly-veiled dig at her ex-husband as she gushed that she is the happiest she’s ever been in a positive update.

Speaking to Scott Mills on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Fearne gushed that she is ‘really happy’ and is ‘springing out of bed in the morning ready for life’.

Scott, who has known Fearne for 25 years, said he has never seen her ‘more positive or happier’, prompting Fearne to agree and reply: ‘Yeah I feel great!’