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Shannon Sharpe is out at ESPN.
The network has parted ways with Sharpe mere weeks after the TV personality settled a lawsuit alleging rape, Front Office Sports can confirm. The Athletic first reported the news.
In April, an anonymous woman filed a lawsuit against Sharpe seeking $50 million in damages. Sharpe, who denies the allegations, said at the time that he was stepping away from ESPN but planned to return at the start of the NFL season.
On July 18, the accuser’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, announced his client had reached a settlement with the Pro Football Hall of Famer, seemingly clearing a pathway for his return to ESPN’s football coverage and First Take with Stephen A. Smith, where Sharpe had become a regular contributor.
Earlier in April, FOS reported Sharpe, 57, had settled a separate accusation with a female production assistant who said he strangled her in the workplace while the two worked at FS1. Sharpe had been anticipating signing a deal worth more than $100 million for Shay Shay Media, FOS reported shortly before the news of the lawsuit.
Sharpe has continued to podcast on Club Shay Shay and Nightcap, two shows on his network.
ESPN had no comment when asked about Sharpe.
Sharpe said Wednesday on Nightcap that he had heard the news from ESPN earlier in the week, and that he hoped it would not break until after his brother, Sterling Sharpe, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. (The Sharpes are the first pair of brothers to make the Hall.)
“I really enjoyed my time at ESPN,” Shannon Sharpe said Wednesday. “I just wish this thing could’ve waited until Monday. I hate the fact that I’m overshadowing my brother.”
