ESPN has cut ties with NFL Hall of Famer and media analyst Shannon Sharpe\u00a0less than two weeks after he settled a lawsuit in which his ex-girlfriend accused him of rape, sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic\u00a0on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Sharpe has not been on ESPN since late April, when the suit was first filed. He said at the time that he would return to ESPN at the beginning of NFL training camp. ESPN declined to comment.<\/p>\n
The woman, known as \u201cJane Doe\u201d in the suit, was seeking $50 million for \u201cpain and suffering, psychological and emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.\u201d Sharpe publicly denied the allegations immediately after his accuser filed the suit in April, calling the case a \u201cshakedown\u201d attempt. He has maintained that he and the Nevada woman were in a consensual sexual relationship.<\/p>\n
Since retiring from the NFL, Sharpe, 57, has had a long media career, first as an NFL studio analyst and then as a sports talk host at FS1, where he rose to greater prominence debating Skip Bayless on \u201cUndisputed.\u201d After that run ended in 2023, Sharpe joined \u201cFirst Take\u201d as a twice-weekly foil for Stephen A. Smith.<\/p>\n
During the Wednesday night episode of his podcast \u201cNightcap\u201d, Sharpe said he\u2019s \u201cat peace\u201d with his departure from ESPN, though he took issue with the announcement\u2019s timing.<\/p>\n
Sharpe said he wishes ESPN had waited until Monday to announce his departure, as his older brother, Sterling, a five-time Pro Bowler for the Green Bay Packers, will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.<\/p>\n
ESPN \u201cdid what they feel they needed to do and I\u2019m at peace with that,\u201d Shannon Sharpe said. \u201cBut I just wish guys, I just wish this thing could have waited until Monday because I hate the fact that I\u2019ve overshadowed my brother. The first two brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and this is what the headline is going to be for the next couple of days.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to \u201cNightcap\u201d, where he teams up with former wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, Sharpe also hosts \u201cClub Shay Shay\u201d. Both are currently distributed by The Volume in an agreement that concludes at the end of August, according to sources briefed on the deal. Before the suit became public in April, Sharpe was closing in on a major podcast deal that may have been worth as much as $100 million, as Front Office Sports reported at the time and sources briefed on the situation confirmed to The Athletic.<\/p>\n
The woman\u2019s attorney, Tony Buzbee, announced the lawsuit\u2019s dismissal in a post on X on July 18, but did not specify the details of the settlement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter protracted and respectful negotiations, I\u2019m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution,\u201d Buzbee wrote. \u201cAll matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.\u201d<\/p>\n
A dismissal with prejudice means Sharpe\u2019s accuser cannot refile the same claim against him in the same Las Vegas court. No criminal charges were filed against Sharpe.<\/p>\n
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