Shannon Sharpe has decided to step down temporarily from his duties with ESPN. The former NFL tight end and ESPN personality is embroiled in a civil lawsuit filed by a woman who claims that the former NFL star sexually assaulted, harassed, and committed battery against her. According to a lawsuit filed Sunday in Clark County, NV, the plaintiff, under the alias “Jane Doe,” said she was in a rocky relationship with Sharpe for nearly two years and is seeking $50 million dollars in damages.
Sharpe has denied the allegations through his lawyer and several posts on social media. Furthermore, according to the New York Post, Sharpe was in mediation with his accuser, with Sharpe’s lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, stating that his client was at least willing to settle for $10 million dollars.
Today, Sharpe posted to social media that he will be stepping down from his duties with ESPN temporarily.
“My statement is found here and this is the truth. The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe noted. “At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties.”
ESPN released a statement following the post made by Sharpe.
“This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away,” said ESPN via a statement.
Sharpe is a frequent co-host on ESPN’s First Take with Stephen A. Smith, who said via his Stephen A. Smith Podcast on Tuesday that he spoke with ESPN management about the situation and passed along that he knows nothing more of the situation. Moreover, Smith expressed hope that Sharpe is allowed to prove his innocence and wished for the best outcome for him.
Stephen A. Smith, who is the executive producer of the program, also helped the network land Sharpe following his departure from rival network FS1.
Meanwhile, Sharpe posted that his plan is to return to ESPN at the beginning of the NFL preseason, which is in August. However, he has not released any comment about his future with his NightCap podcast with Chad OchoCinco, which is owned by his Shay Shay Media.
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