Shannon Sharpe announced Thursday that he is relinquishing his ESPN gig just days after a women accused the pro football Hall of Famer of raping her, TMZ reported. In a post on X, the 56-year-old stated that he will “temporarily” resign his seat at the First Take desk so he can handle “false and disruptive allegations set against me.” “I will be devoting this time to my family,” he said, adding that he will likely return this summer, around the time the NFL’s preseason starts. The debacle follows a lawsuit by a Jane Doe on Sunday claiming that Sharpe sexually assaulted her in Oct. 2024 and again in Jan. 2025 after a two-year relationship. In his statement, Sharpe denied any wrongdoing on his part, saying, “The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” and thanked his fans for their support. Sharpe first joined ESPN in 2023, when Stephan A. Smith hired him to be his partner on First Take. Despite the lawsuit hanging over his head, Sharpe appeared in both Monday and Tuesday episodes. However, an ESPN spokesperson told TMZ that the network is pleased with Sharpe’s announcement, saying, “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”
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