For the previous a number of months, Shannon Sharpe’s destiny at ESPN has been unsure. That’s been as a result of authorized scenario that the skilled soccer player-turned-media persona grew to become ensnared on this previous April. On the time, a Jane Doe accused 57-year-old Sharpe of rape and extra. Sharpe ultimately stepped away from his duties on the Disney-owned sports activities community because of this, and he settled the lawsuit earlier in July. Now, it appears the media conglomerate has reached a call on his future with the corporate.
In accordance with sources, Shannon Sharpe has been dropped by ESPN, and this information comes by means of The Athletic. This reported determination comes months after Sharpe said that he deliberate to return to the media firm initially of NFL coaching camp. Neither the community nor Sharpe himself have commented on the matter, as of this writing. This transfer not solely marks the departure of one other persona at ESPN nevertheless it additionally closes the e book on a chapter in Sharpe’s media profession.
The previous Denver Bronco has made numerous media appearances since retiring from the NFL in 2003. Henotably rose to prominence as a sports activities pundit when he joined FS1’s Skip and Shannon: Undisputed, which premiered in 2016. Throughout Sharpe’s tenure on that program, he bumped heads with co-host Skip Bayless on a number of events. In 2023, their relationship got here to a head when Sharpe walked off set after 45 seconds on air, a transfer that stemmed from feedback Bayless made in relation to Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin.
Shannon Sharpe formally exited Undisputed within the fall of 2023, at which level he started to function a recurring panelist on ESPN’s First Take. In a brief period of time, Sharpe’s appearances on the present started to achieve traction amongst followers. That was in nice half as a result of him unintentionally calling Stephen A. Smith “Skip.” He ultimately, nonetheless, signed an extension in February 2024. Sharpe’s run on the community wasn’t with out controversy, as he went viral for unintentionally livestreaming a intercourse act. Moreover, Sharpe went off on fellow workers who criticized his protection of Ohio State’s soccer program.
The lawsuit leveled towards the podcast host was filed in Clark County, Nevada. As famous by The Athletic, the 20-year-old Jane Doe sued Sharpe on the grounds of “ache and struggling, psychological and emotional misery, psychological anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.” Sharpe vehemently denied the allegations, calling the go well with a “shakedown” and saying that he and the lady have been engaged in a consensual relationship. Her lawyer, Tony Buzzbee, introduced on July 18 that the lawsuit had been dismissed, saying the next:
After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m happy to announce that we’ve reached a mutually agreed upon decision. All issues have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.
Whereas his tenure with the Home of Mouse’s flagship sports activities model is now over, Shannon Sharpe continues to be concerned with different media ventures. He’s the co-host of the Membership Shay Shay podcast and in addition co-hosts Nightcap with fellow NFL veteran Chad Ochocinco. The Athletic notes that earlier than the sexual assault lawsuit emerged, Sharpe was on the verge of touchdown a podcasting deal which will have been valued at $100 million.
It stays to be seen whether or not ESPN will launch an official assertion concerning the choice to chop ties with Shannon Sharpe. The identical could be stated as for whether or not Sharpe may select to deal with the subject on his podcast.