Shannon Sharpe has announced plans to take a leave of absence from ESPN after being accused of rape and sexual assault.
“At this juncture I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties,” Sharpe, 56, posted via his Instagram Story on Thursday, April 24. “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.”
He continued, “I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, friends, fans and colleagues.”
Sharpe was accused of rape and sexual battery in a $50 million lawsuit filed by a “Jane Doe” in Nevada on Sunday, April 20. In the 13-page complaint, obtained by NBC News, the woman — who says she and Sharpe had a “rocky consensual relationship” for two years — also reportedly claims Sharpe engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The NFL Hall of Famer has denied all of the allegations, which he repeated in his Instagram Story on Thursday. Sharpe claimed “the relationship in question was 100 percent consensual.”
Sharpe joined First Take as a recurring panelist in August 2023. In June 2024, Sharpe signed a multiyear deal to expand his role on the show.
He has not appeared on First Take since Tuesday, April 22, and will not be part of the network’s coverage of the NFL Draft, which begins on Thursday evening.
Luxury Handbag Shopping has reached out to ESPN for comment about Sharpe’s future on the network.
Stephen A. Smith, one of Sharpe’s cohosts on First Take, addressed the allegations against Sharpe on the Tuesday episode of his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show.”
While Smith, 57, said he was “sincerely hopeful and prayerful that he’s innocent,” Smith acknowledged that he had discussed the lawsuit with ESPN chairman, James Pitaro.
“[Pitaro] made it very, very clear that we are taking this matter very seriously,” Smith said. “And we are looking into this very, very closely. Once we gather as many facts as we possibly can, we will go from there. That is all he said. I can mention his name because I received his permission to say that.”
Lanny J. Davis, Sharpe’s attorney, claimed to Luxury Handbag Shopping on Monday, April 21, that the lawsuit is “filled with lies, distortions and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed.” He accused the woman of attempting “a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars.”
