ESPN Sidelines Shannon Sharpe in $50 Million Rape Case, Says He Choked Female Production Assistant

Shannon Sharpe’s tenure at ESPN could be coming to an end as he has announced a break from the network, alongside a new report claiming that he choked a female production assistant in 2010.

According to reports from Deadline, the Disney-owned company has chosen to bench Sharpe from his usual Monday and Tuesday slot on First Take. It remains uncertain if Sharpe will return to the show hosted by Stephen A. Smith.

Sharpe indicates that the choice to withdraw was made autonomously. According to The Washington Post, ESPN has expressed its support for his decision, describing the situation as serious. 

This follows a civil lawsuit filed four days ago by a woman seeking $50 million, in which she alleges that the former NFL star raped her during their two-year relationship. In a statement posted on social media, Sharpe expressed that his testimony represented “the truth” and emphasized that his relationship with the woman involved was “100% consensual.”

“At this point, I have decided to take a temporary leave from my responsibilities at ESPN.” I will focus on my family during this time and address the false and disruptive allegations made against me. I intend to go back to ESPN at the beginning of the NFL preseason.

“I truly value the immense and continuous support I have garnered from my family, fans, friends, and colleagues,” Shannon concluded.

According to a source from Deadline, ESPN plans to conduct a more in-depth investigation into the matter. Sharpe claims that the lawsuit is a “shakedown.” Shannon’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, disclosed earlier this week that the podcast host proposed a $10 million check to his accuser in an effort to prevent this situation from being exposed, which has also reportedly caused “concerns” at ESPN.

Shannon Sharpe has previously encountered allegations related to sexual assault and choking.

Sharpe has encountered allegations of misconduct before. According to Front Office Sports, in 2010, he briefly left his position on CBS’s The NFL Today following an accusation of sexual assault; the case was dismissed, and he subsequently returned to the network.

Furthermore, while at Fox Sports’ Undisputed, Front Office Sports indicates that Sharpe faced allegations of choking a female production assistant in the workplace. The outlet reports, citing sources, that Sharpe and Fox resolved the issue privately for several hundred thousand dollars, with no lawsuit being filed. Sharpe’s representative has refuted the choking allegation, describing the incident as a “playful” exchange between colleagues.

A Jane Doe has filed a lawsuit in Nevada, alleging that the podcast personality raped her twice in Las Vegas in October and once more in January, as stated in the suit. The woman stated that she was 19 years old in 2023 when she first encountered Sharpe, 56, at a gym in Los Angeles, resulting in a “rocky consensual relationship” that lasted nearly two years. According to the Clark County civil complaint, she asserts that Sharpe was often “aggressive” and raped her on multiple occasions.

Shannon Sharpe has refuted all claims made against him.