Shannon Sharpe naming his accuser reveals the weakening grip of #MeToo for better or worse
Shannon Sharpe has put another nail in the believe-all-women mandate of the #MeToo era.On Monday, the NFL great and media personality was accused of rape by an anonymous ex-girlfriend.In a bombshell $50 million lawsuit, she described their relationship as “rocky consensual” and alleged that Sharpe had threatened to “brutally choke her and violently slap her.”Not too long ago, an accusation like that would have sent a man into retreat or contrition mode.But Sharpe didn’t issue a denial or apologize or crawl under a rock.
Instead, he went scorched earth on his ex-paramour, who filed the lawsuit as Jane Doe.His attorney Lanny J.Davis, not only publicly named the woman, he released a trove of raunchy texts she had sent Sharpe — requesting various types of kinky and rough sex acts.In a statement, Davis said the texts “clearly indicate the nature of their relationship was consensual and sexual in nature — and, in many cases, initiated by her with specific and graphic requests” that included “role-playing, sexual language and fantasy scenarios.”None of us can truly know what happened between the pair.
Perhaps she’s a victim of violence.Maybe he’s a victim of vindictiveness.
Maybe the messy truth is somewhere in between.But one thing is certain: Sharpe isn’t rolling over.He’s getting down in the mud and fighting back.
He even posted a video today, explicitly calling the lawsuit a “shakedown” and saying he was going tosue the woman for defamation.It’s further evidence that #MeToo has lost its death grip on our society.The almighty movement — which sent any and all accused men, regardless of the degree of transgression, to the career electric chair and social purgatory — has been defanged.And the fairer sex, once unimpeachable under the “believe all women” motto, are no longer automatically given the rubber stamp of absolute veracity.Among those refusing to retreat is former governor (now NYC’s mayoral frontrunner) Andrew Cuom...