Overview

• Jimalita Tillman filed the defamation suit on April 24 in Cook County and the case was transferred to federal court in early August with a response due by August 22.
• The complaint alleges Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson falsely claimed on Nightcap that Tillman was married and divorcing over a viral Usher concert cherry-feeding moment.
• Tillman says her repeated requests for a retraction and removal of the podcast segment were ignored, worsening emotional distress and undermining her work as a cultural leader.
• Sharpe’s legal team has not publicly commented on the defamation charges and no apology or retraction has been issued for the contested Nightcap episode.
• The lawsuit follows Sharpe’s confidential mid-July settlement of a $50 million sexual assault case and his departure from ESPN, intensifying scrutiny of podcaster accountability and fact-checking standards.