Shannon Sharpe is going through a slew of startling allegations, together with sexual assault and battery, from a girl generally known as Jane Doe in a brand new lawsuit. The accusations got here seven months after Sharpe, 56, by accident live-streamed a sexually express incident. After the lawsuit was filed, the ESPN commentator introduced he won’t be seen on the community’s First Take in the interim, prompting viewers to imagine he was fired.
Under, discover out whether or not or not Sharpe will return to ESPN and be taught in regards to the lawsuit in opposition to him.
Who Is Shannon Sharpe?
Sharpe is a former NFL tight finish, greatest identified for his time enjoying with the Denver Broncos from 1990 via 1999 and once more from 2002 to 2003. He’s nonetheless considered one of many league’s best tight ends of all time and is part of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Following his retirement from the sector, Sharpe grew to become a sports activities commentator for CBS then ultimately joined ESPN for First Take. Along with community gigs, Sharpe has additionally hosted podcasts, amongst them being “Membership Shay Shay” and “Nightcap.”
Was Shannon Sharpe Fired by ESPN?
No, ESPN has not fired Sharpe. He acknowledged that he was stepping away from his job at First Take to handle the sexual assault lawsuit in opposition to him in April 2025.
“At this juncture, I’m electing to step apart quickly from my ESPN duties,” Sharpe wrote in a press release shared through X on April 24. “I might be devoting this time to my household, and responding and coping with these false and disruptive allegations set in opposition to me.”
Sharpe then added that he plans “to return to ESPN in the beginning of the NFL preseason.”
The community commented on Sharpe’s hiatus in a press release, which learn, “This can be a critical state of affairs, and we agree with Shannon’s resolution to step away,” in keeping with CNN.
Is Shannon Sharpe Married?
No, Sharpe shouldn’t be presently married, and he’s presumably by no means been married. It’s additionally unclear if he’s in a relationship on the time of publication. His former girlfriend Michelle Bundy Evans accused him of rape and sexual assault in a $4 million defamation go well with, in keeping with The U.S. Solar.
Does Shannon Sharpe Have Children?
Sure, Sharpe is a father to his three kids, Kiari, Kayla and Kaley.
What Are the Allegations Towards Shannon Sharpe?
Within the 2025 lawsuit in opposition to Sharpe, Jane Doe alleged that he “violently sexually assaulted and anally raped Plaintiff … “blatantly ignoring her requests for him to cease” in October 2024 after which once more in January 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, per CNN.
The lawsuit alleges, “After many months of manipulating and controlling Plaintiff — a girl greater than thirty years youthful than he — and repeatedly threatening to brutally choke and violently slap her, Sharpe refused to simply accept the reply ‘no’ and raped Plaintiff, regardless of her sobbing and repeated screams of ‘no.’”
Sharpe has vehemently denied the accusations, and his lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, insisted that their relationship was “sexual in nature — and, in lots of instances, initiated by her with particular and graphic requests.” The lawyer added that Sharpe “appears to be like ahead to vindication via due course of and a judgment based mostly on the information and the regulation,” in keeping with CNN.
If you happen to or anybody you recognize has been sexually abused, name the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). A skilled workers member will present confidential, judgment-free assist in addition to native assets to help in therapeutic, recovering and extra.
