Shannon Sharpe Takes Break From ESPN’s First Take After Rape Lawsuit

Shannon Sharpe has offered his last words on ESPN‘s “First Take” for the foreseeable future in the wake of accusastions and a $50 million lawsuit from a Nevada woman who alleges the former NFL player raped and threatened her in the c ourse of a two-year relationship.

In a statement posted on X, Sharpe said he was “electing to step aside temporarily” from his duties at Walt Disney’s ESPN, where he is featured prominently on “First Take,” the hot-talk sports roundtable led by Stephen A. Smith. He said he “plans to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason.”

ESPN said in a statement Thursday that “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.” His absence is likely to give the network and is parent company the time required to determine whether Sharpe should continue on its talent roster.

“The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe said in the statement, adding that “I will be devoting this time to my family, and responding and dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me.”

Sharpe typically appears on “First Take” on Mondays and Tuesdays, and also hosts a podcast called “Club Shay Shay.”

More to come….