NFL Hall of Famer and longtime sports broadcaster Shannon Sharpe has been officially terminated by ESPN, initially reported by The Athletic. Just two weeks after settling a $50 million civil lawsuit involving allegations of rape, sodomy, domestic violence, and emotional abuse. The lawsuit was filed in April 2025 by an unnamed OnlyFans model who alleged multiple assaults occurring between November 2024 and January 2025.
Sharpe, 57, had publicly denied all accusations, referring to the civil suit as a “shakedown” and outing the alleged victim by name shortly after the lawsuit became public. He maintained that any relationship between them was consensual and had planned to return to ESPN’s First Take in time for the NFL preseason, beginning Saturday, August 2.
Pressure to cut ties
However, ESPN executives under the broader umbrella of parent company Disney have now determined that keeping Sharpe on air was no longer tenable, particularly following the release of more graphic details from the suit. A source confirmed that termination papers were formally served to Sharpe this week.
The former Super Bowl champion had become a fixture on ESPN’s First Take alongside Stephen A. Smith, known for his bold opinions and viral moments. He joined the network in 2023 after six years on Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed, where he co-hosted with Skip Bayless. Sharpe had only recently signed a high profile deal with ESPN, reportedly involving direct negotiation with Disney CEO Bob Iger.
This latest controversy follows a previous incident in late 2024. In which Sharpe accidentally livestreamed himself engaging in sexual activity with an unnamed woman. It remains unclear whether that episode involved the same individual who filed the civil suit. Sharpe remains active through his own media ventures. Including his viral podcast Club Shay Shay and co hosted livestream show Nightcap with Unc and Ocho. Both of which continue to generate millions of views and strong audience engagement.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
