Jimalita Tillman is finding herself in an uncomfortable position, but she has a clear goal in mind. She is at the center of a $20 million lawsuit against sports personalities Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. In a recent interview on The Morning Hustle, Tillman explained her reasons for taking legal action against the two.
The situation began at a Usher concert in London, where a moment she shared with the singer went viral. According to Tillman, comments made by Sharpe and Johnson on their podcast, Nightcap, incorrectly implied that she was married and going through a divorce as a result of that moment. Tillman insists this story isn’t true, as she was single at the time, and says they never bothered to check the facts before sharing this misleading narrative with their large audience.
Check out this article: DJ Akademiks Reacts To LeBron James’ Absence At Caribana
“I’m a private citizen,” she emphasized, pointing out that those with platforms have a responsibility to be accurate. “You better fact check and double check what you’re saying and what you’re doing, because it’s wrong.” The fallout from this situation has affected her both personally and professionally. Tillman mentioned that smaller media outlets picked up the story, often referring to Sharpe as a trusted source. This has forced her to address awkward questions in crucial meetings related to funding and projects. “Every time I enter a meeting for funding, for programming and activations and things, it comes up.”
Sharpe, who runs his own media company, has had his share of legal issues in the past, including a recent $50 million settlement with another woman. However, Tillman believes her situation is particularly concerning because Sharpe hasn’t taken responsibility. She argues that his media platform lacks a clear policy for verifying facts or correcting mistakes, something she believes should be standard practice. “He knows better,” she said. “And the way they kept my image up, the way they kept it going in the chat and was going on and on, it was mortifying.” As her case progresses, Tillman is not only seeking financial compensation but also wants accountability from those who treat people’s lives as material for entertainment.
