ESPN has reportedly cut ties with Shannon Sharpe less than two weeks after settling a sexual assault lawsuit.
A source briefed The Athletic on the matter on Wednesday (July 30).
Sharpe, who has been off the air since late April when the suit was first filed, had said at the time he would return for the NFL preseason.
"At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties," Sharpe wrote at the time. "I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me. I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason. I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues."
Prior to his departure, Sharpe denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit a “blatant set-up” and a “shakedown.”
In a since-deleted Instagram video, he directly called out the plaintiff’s attorney, Tony Buzbee.
“This is all being orchestrated by Tony Buzbee, who has targeted Jay-Z," Buzbee said. "Tony Buzbee targets Black men and I believe he is going to release a 30-second clip of a sex tape that tries to make me look guilty and plays into every stereotype you could possibly imagine."
The accuser, identified anonymously as Jane Doe, sought $50 million in damages for emotional and psychological harm. No criminal charges were filed, and the case concluded with a settlement.
On July 18, Buzbee announced the dismissal of the case on X, writing, “After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.”
After retiring from the NFL, Sharpe enjoyed a media career with hosting gigs on FS1’s Undisputed before joining ESPN’s First Take. He currently hosts the podcasts Club Shay Shay and Nightcap, both distributed by The Volume.
Before the lawsuit, Sharpe was reportedly nearing a podcast deal worth up to $100 million, per The Athletic.
