Shannon Sharpe Sidelined By ESPN Amid $50M Rape…
Shannon Sharpe’s time at ESPN could also be over for good amid his asserting a break from the community and a new report alleging that he choked a feminine manufacturing assistant in 2010.
The Disney-owned company has determined to bench Sharpe from his common Monday and Tuesday slot on First Take, in accordance with experiences from Deadline. Whether or not Sharpe returns to the show, led by Stephen A. Smith, is reportedly nonetheless TBD.
According to Sharpe, nonetheless, the choice to step away was made independently. The Washington Post experiences that ESPN “supports” his choice, labeling the state of affairs “serious.”
This comes 4 days after a girl filed a $50 million civil lawsuit in opposition to Sharpe, during which she accuses the previous NFL star of raping her whereas they have been in a two-year relationship. In a assertion shared on social media, Sharpe acknowledged that his testimony was “the truth” and that his relationship with the girl in query was “100% consensual.”
“At this juncture, I’m electing to step apart briefly from my ESPN duties. I will likely be devoting this time to my household, and responding and coping with these false and disruptive allegations set in opposition to me. I plan to return to ESPN firstly of the NFL preseason.”
“I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends and colleagues,” Shannon concluded.
ESPN reportedly intends to “further investigate” the case, in accordance with one of Deadline’s company sources. Sharpe insists that the lawsuit is a “shakedown.” Shannon’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, revealed earlier this week that the podcast host offered to write his accuser a $10 million check to keep this situation from coming to light, which has also reportedly “raised concerns” at ESPN.
Shannon Sharpe Previously Faced Allegations Of Sexual Assault, Choking
This shouldn’t be the primary time Sharpe has confronted allegations of misconduct. Front Office Sports experiences that in 2010, he briefly stepped away from his function on CBS’s The NFL Today after a girl accused him of sexual assault; the case was dismissed, and he returned to the community.
Additionally, during his tenure at Fox Sports’ Undisputed, Front Office Sports experiences that Sharpe was accused of choking a feminine manufacturing assistant within the office. Citing sources, the outlet experiences that Sharpe and Fox settled the matter privately for a number of hundred thousand {dollars}, and no lawsuit was filed. Sharpe’s consultant has denied the choking allegation, characterizing the incident as a “playful” interplay amongst colleagues.
As beforehand reported, a Jane Doe filed a lawsuit in Nevada on Sunday, accusing the podcast character of raping her twice in Las Vegas in October and one more time in January, in accordance with the swimsuit. The girl mentioned she was 19 years outdated in 2023 when she first met Sharpe, 56, in a Los Angeles gymnasium, which led to a “rocky consensual relationship” of practically two years. She claims Sharpe was often “aggressive” and raped her a number of instances, in accordance with the Clark County civil criticism.
Shannon Sharpe has denied all allegations.
The post Shannon Sharpe Sidelined By ESPN Amid $50M Rape Lawsuit, New Report Alleges He Choked Female Production Assistant appeared first on GWN.
