Jimalita Tillman, the woman who went viral dancing with Usher at a concert, has filed a shocking $20 million defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, and their production company Shay Shay Media.
Tillman alleges they spread false claims about her marital status after the clip blew up claims she says destroyed her reputation.
During Usher’s London concert on April 2, 2025, Tillman was spotlighted on stage during a playful fan moment that went viral. Suddenly, she became “the Usher girl.” But fast fame wasn’t always kind.
According to court docs, Sharpe and Chad referenced the video on their Nightcap podcast—claiming, “her husband filed for divorce over it.” Tillman insists she is not married and never was, nor is she going through a divorce.
“Following this event, the defendants made and disseminated false and defamatory statements suggesting that I was married and that my husband was filing for divorce due to my participation in this audience experience, I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce”
She went on to explain, “I was not married at the time of the fan participation moment during the Usher concert.
“The defendants’ false narratives were shared widely across their platforms, reaching millions of followers, viral spread and refutation efforts, despite my clear and public reputation of the false narrative.”
Despite her public efforts—interviews, posts, media clarifications the hosts allegedly continued to repeat the false narrative on various platforms.
Tillman says this caused emotional damage, professional harm, and lasting disrespect.
Tillman is a global director for the Harold Washington Cultural Center, said she even went on national media shows to refute the allegations from the ESPN First Take star that she was a married woman.
