Shannon Sharpe Missing from ESPN for Second Consecutive Day Amid Ongoing Lawsuit
Shannon Sharpe missed ESPN’s First Take for the second consecutive day following a sexual assault lawsuit against the NFL Hall of Famer.
At 56, Sharpe is a part-time contributor to the morning sports show, and it remains unclear if he was slated to appear on the episodes for Wednesday, April 23, or Thursday, April 24. However, with the NFL Draft commencing on Thursday night, some fans quickly drew connections.
“Welp…no Shannon Sharpe on First Take,” a viewer commented via X. “On the day of the NFL Draft coverage. Not good.”
Another user noted, “Slowly but surely ESPN pushing Shannon Sharpe away.”
The former NFL tight end appeared on the April 21 and 22 episodes of First Take after the lawsuit was filed but did not discuss the allegations during the broadcasts.
Sharpe is accused of sexual assault and battery in a $50 million lawsuit filed by a “Jane Doe” in Nevada on April 20. The 13-page complaint, obtained by NBC News, recounts a “rocky consensual relationship” the woman had with Sharpe over two years, alongside accusations of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Lanny J. Davis, Sharpe’s attorney, told Us Weekly on April 21 that the lawsuit is “filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed.” He accused the plaintiff of making a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars.”
Sharpe began appearing as a recurring panelist on First Take in August 2023, and in June 2024, he signed a multiyear deal to expand his role on the show.
Us Weekly has reached out to ESPN for comments regarding Sharpe’s future with the network.
Stephen A. Smith, one of Sharpe’s cohosts on First Take, addressed the allegations against Sharpe in a podcast episode on Tuesday.
While Smith, at 57, expressed his “sincere hope and prayers for Sharpe’s innocence,” he admitted to having discussed the lawsuit with ESPN chairman, James Pitaro.
“[Pitaro] made it very, very clear that we are taking this matter seriously,” Smith stated. “We are looking into this closely. Once we gather as many facts as possible, we will proceed accordingly. I have permission to mention his name.”
Smith added, “In a perfect world, this would be like the Jay-Z case, where the matter is dropped, and Shannon can continue on First Take and thrive.”
