Shannon Sharpe is temporarily stepping away from his role on ESPN’s “First Take” following the filing of a $50 million lawsuit in which a Nevada woman identified as Jane Doe alleged he raped and threatened her during a two-year relationship. Sharpe announced his hiatus via a post to X on Thursday.
“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. I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues,” he said.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 24, 2025
Following Sharpe’s social media post, ESPN also released a statement: “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”
The lawsuit against Sharpe seeks damages for “pain and suffering, psychological and emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment, and humiliation.” Attorney Tony Buzbee, who previously represented more than 20 women who accused quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual assault, filed the suit against Sharpe in a Las Vegas District Court on…
