Shannon Sharpe Steps Away From ESPN Following $50M Rape Lawsuit
Shannon Sharpe, 56, one of the most outspoken voices on ESPN’s First Take, is stepping away from his role—temporarily—after being hit with a $50 million rape lawsuit by a Jane Doe.
The Hall of Famer dropped the announcement in a raw, personal statement posted to social media Thursday, shutting down the accusations and letting folks know where his head’s at.
“My statement is found here and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe wrote.
He continued, “At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties. 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.”
ESPN Reacts As Sharpe Takes A Step Back
ESPN didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the heat surrounding the situation. In a statement provided to The New York Post, the network stood behind Sharpe’s decision to take some time off, saying:
“This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”
The move comes as disturbing audio recordings, reportedly of Sharpe, surfaced earlier this week. In one clip released by attorney Tony Buzbee, Sharpe can be heard saying:
“I might choke you in public.”
A separate audio—also attributed to Sharpe—contains an even more alarming threat: “If you say that word one more time, I’m going to f–king choke the s–t out of you when I see you.”
Sharpe’s Lawyer Comes With Receipts: “Role-Playing” and Texts
Sharpe’s legal rep, veteran attorney Lanny J. Davis, came out swinging. Davis claims this whole case is a setup and says the lawsuit is nothing more than a money grab.
To prove his point, Davis dropped a bundle of explicit text messages allegedly sent by the accuser—texts that suggest she was into some intense, consensual role-playing. He also revealed she charges fans for similar content on her OnlyFans account.
One message from October 2023 allegedly reads:
“I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while you’re f–king me.”
Davis added the woman is over 30 years younger than Sharpe, and that the two were close to settling for “at least $10 million” before she reportedly pulled out of the deal.
The Bigger Picture: Sharpe Calls It A “Shakedown”
Sharpe, a former NFL tight end turned sports commentator, is making it clear—he’s not folding under the pressure. According to his statement and his legal team’s pushback, this lawsuit is a straight-up “shakedown.”
Despite the backlash and viral speculation, Sharpe is choosing to fall back temporarily, focus on his family, and fight the allegations head-on. But don’t get it twisted—he says he’s coming back stronger.
“I plan to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason,” he said.
The story is still developing, and all eyes will be on whether this situation escalates further or fizzles out before the fall.
