Shannon Sharpe Steps Away from ESPN Amid $50M Rape Lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe is hitting pause on his ESPN duties after being slapped with a $50 million lawsuit from a former girlfriend accusing him of rape and abuse. The NFL Hall of Famer and media personality says the claims are completely false and vows to fight back in court.

Sharpe made it clear he’s stepping away from First Take to handle the situation privately and support his loved ones, aiming to return before the NFL season kicks off. ESPN is standing by the move, calling it the right decision.

His legal team is calling the lawsuit a bunch of lies, while the accuser claims two separate assaults happened in late 2024 and early 2025.

While the courts sort things out, Shannon’s future with ESPN and his other ventures like Club Shay Shay remains in limbo.

Stay tuned—this tea is still steeping.