- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 518,533
- Reaction score
- 47
You must be registered for see images attach
Shannon Sharpe has offered his last words on ESPN’s “First Take” for the foreseeable future in the wake of accusastions and a $50 million lawsuit from a Nevada woman who alleges the former NFL player raped and threatened her in the c ourse of a two-year relationship.
In a statement posted on X, Sharpe said he was “electing to step aside temporarily” from his duties at Walt Disney’s ESPN, where he is featured prominently on “First Take,” the hot-talk sports roundtable led by Stephen A. Smith. He said he “plans to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason.”
More from Variety
- 'Club Shay Shay' Host Shannon Sharpe Sued for $50 Million Over Alleged Sexual Assault
- How to Watch NBA Play-In Tournament 2025 Online Without Cable
- PFL World Tournament 2025: How to Watch PFL 3 Middleweights & Lightweights Online
ESPN said in a statement Thursday that “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.” His absence is likely to give the network and is parent company the time required to determine whether Sharpe should continue on its talent roster.
“The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe said in the statement, adding that “I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me.”
More to come….
Best of Variety
- New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
- What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025
- The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Continue reading...
