Tony Buzbee, the high-profile Texas lawyer representing the woman who accused Shannon Sharpe of sexually assaulting her, recently responded to the former NFL star’s claim that he was targeting Black men.
As previously reported by Face2Face Africa, Sharpe, 57, was initially hit with a $50 million civil sexual assault lawsuit filed against him by a woman with whom he had a “consensual relationship.”
The lawsuit was filed in Nevada in April, and Sharpe ultimately decided to reach a settlement with his alleged victim. The settlement was announced by Buzbee in July. But after the lawsuit was filed, Sharpe denied the allegations and claimed that Buzbee was targeting Black men.
“I didn’t wake up one morning and say, ‘I want to sue Shannon Sharpe.’ He has no relevance in my life. I actually think he’s very entertaining when he yells and screams and talks about sports that he’s not involved in,” Buzbee told Esquire in an interview. “But if I think it’s a legitimate case, then I pursue it. And I think this is worth my time.”
READ ALSO: Shannon Sharpe settles $50 million sexual assault lawsuit
Buzbee also gave a candid response when the topic regarding him targeting Black men came up. “I guess a bunch of old white men could say I’m targeting them, and a bunch of multinational corporations could say I’m targeting them as well,” he said. “I guess you could say I was targeting BP [Deepwater Horizon oil spill].” He added: “Well, I probably was targeting BP.”
Though the details of the agreement were not disclosed, Sharpe’s legal team told The Los Angeles Times that a settlement had indeed been reached, adding that the statement from Buzbee was to be deemed as the “final word” on the case.
Sharpe’s lead attorney, Michael Marino, touched on the case and settlement in a statement to Esquire. “Like many highly successful individuals, Tony Buzbee is a complex and formidable figure,” Marino said.
“In the matter involving Shannon Sharpe, although we stood on opposite sides of the legal aisle, our shared experience as former officers in the United States Marine Corps fostered a mutual respect that guided our discussions. That brotherhood enabled us to speak candidly and constructively, ultimately allowing us to reach a resolution that served the interests of all parties involved.”
READ ALSO: ESPN parts ways with Shannon Sharpe after he settles $50M sexual assault lawsuit
