Will Shannon Sharpe return as ESPN’s commentator amid sexual assault lawsuit? Details explored

Shannon Sharpe's role as the commentator for ESPN has been axed in the wake of his settling his s*xual assault lawsuit.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame member resolved a lawsuit with a woman who accused him of s*xually assaulting her during their relationship just earlier this month. Back in April, when the allegations first emerged, he stepped back from his role on ESPN's First Take, though Variety has now reported that the break has been made permanent.

The Nevada woman launched a $50 million lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe, alleging that he r*ped her and threatened her during their two years of dating. At the time, the latter took to X to issue a statement that read:

I am “electing to step aside temporarily” his role on ESPN, adding that "The relationship in question was 100% consensual." He also dubbed the allegations “false and disruptive.” He also vowed to make a comeback to his role at some point.

His lawyer at the time, Lanny J. Davis, also said that the lawsuit was a

“blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars” and was “filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations.”

Shannon Sharpe's time at ESPN explored:

ESPN reported earlier this month that the lawsuit was filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe, and the lawyer representing her was celebrity attorney Tony Buzbee. After the settlement, the details of which still remain undisclosed, he took to X to pen a statement:

"Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. 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."

When Shannon Sharpe announced his hiatus from First Take, ESPN issued a statement noting,

“This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”

Shannon Sharpe reportedly took a similar hiatus from his role on CBS Sports back in 2010, when a woman accused him of s*xual assault. However, he was never prosecuted for the same and eventually returned to his role.

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Shannon Sharpe joined the network back in 2023, and by the following year, he had begun contributing more expansively, as opposed to only on Mondays and Tuesdays, which was his initial schedule. Nowadays, he hosts his own podcast as well, titled “Club Shay Shay.”

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