• Former NFL stars Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson face a $20 million defamation lawsuit from cultural director Jimalita Tillman, who says they falsely claimed she was married and facing divorce after a viral Usher concert moment.

ATLANTA, Ga. (TDR) — Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, co-hosts of the wildly popular Nightcap podcast, are now at the center of a legal storm. Jimalita Tillman, a prominent arts executive who went viral during an Usher concert in April, has filed a $20 million defamation suit, accusing the ex-NFL stars of spreading falsehoods about her personal life for entertainment value.

According to court documents obtained by The U.S. Sun, Tillman alleges that Sharpe, Johnson, and their production company, Shay Shay Media, “knowingly spread false and defamatory statements” suggesting she was married and headed for divorce after her viral concert appearance. She says these claims were fabricated and have caused irreparable harm.

“I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce,” Tillman said in the filing. “I was not married at the time of the fan participation moment during the Usher concert.”

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

The incident in question occurred on April 2, 2025, when Tillman participated in an onstage interaction with Usher at one of his shows. The clip of their flirty moment set social media ablaze, but the aftermath, she claims, took a dark turn.

According to Tillman, Sharpe and Johnson used the moment as podcast fodder—alleging on Nightcap that her “husband was filing for divorce” because of the interaction. These comments, she insists, were broadcast to millions without any fact-checking or regard for the truth.

Tillman, who serves as the global director of the Harold Washington Cultural Center in Chicago, says her professional standing and personal life have been deeply impacted by the rumors. As a single mother, she emphasized the difficulty of trying to shield her child and career from the fallout.

“Their continued dissemination of these false statements after I publicly clarified my marital status demonstrates a reckless disregard for the truth,” she wrote in the lawsuit.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

The complaint further alleges that even after Tillman addressed the falsehoods on national media outlets, Nightcap did not retract or remove the episode or related social media posts. Instead, she claims, they allowed the false narrative to fester online.

The timing could not be worse for Sharpe, who was just released from ESPN and recently settled a separate $50 million lawsuit involving a rape allegation. Though cleared in that case, the mounting legal issues pose reputational risks for the 57-year-old commentator and former Denver Broncos star.

For Tillman, the suit isn’t simply about money—it’s about setting a precedent in an age where virality often trumps veracity.

“This is about accountability,” Tillman said. “Public figures with massive platforms must understand the real-world consequences of using misinformation for clicks and laughs.”

Should celebrity podcasters be held to the same standards as journalists when their words cause real-life damage?

Follow The Dupree Report on YouTube

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10