Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco settle $20 million defamation suit with female Usher fan

Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson settled a $20 million defamation suit, according to court documents. The lawsuit was filed by a female Usher fan.

The woman – Jimalita Tillman – filed the suit against Sharpe, Johnson and Shay Shay Media in April. She said the duo made “false and defamatory” statements during their Nightcap podcast while discussing a video of Usher appearing to feed her cherries in the front row of a concert.

Sharpe and Johnson allegedly said Tillman’s husband was filing for divorce, though she said she was not married at the time and still is not. She also said she tried to contact the two former NFL stars, but did not get a response from neither them nor the company, according to FOX 32 Chicago’s Tia Ewing.

The suit was dismissed with prejudice in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, records show, meaning the case cannot be refiled in the same court. Tillman also released a statement to FOX 32 regarding the decision.

“I am pleased with the outcome,” Tillman said. “We were able to put this matter behind us without a long-drawn-out court matter. We look forward to future discussions about the positive contributions Mr. Sharpe and I both make to the community. I wish him, his family, and his business endeavors continued success.”

This week’s decision marks the second notable decision for Shannon Sharpe in the last few weeks. The Pro Football Hall of Famer recently agreed to settle a lawsuit against him which alleged he raped a woman.

Shannon Sharpe out at ESPN

Sharpe has not been on ESPN’s airwaves since late April in light of the suit, and the plan was for him to return in time for the 2025 NFL season. However, the network opted to cut ties with him, and he confirmed the decision on his podcast. But he also noted the timing of the reports indicating his departure. They came days before his brother Sterling’s Hall of Fame induction.

“I really enjoyed my time at ESPN,” Sharpe said. “It gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me really just grow. They saw me ‘Lakers and 5’ and they saw me say all these analogies that my grandparents gave me, and I was able to bring that to ESPN. So I’m very, very grateful for that.

“But I just wished, of all things, like I said, they did what they felt they needed to do. And I’m at peace with that. But I just wish, guys, I just wish this thing could have waited until Monday because I hate the fact that I’m overshadowing my brother. The first two brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this is what the headline is going to be for the next couple of days.”