Shannon Sharpe breaks his silence on ESPN letting him go after settling $50 million lawsuit: ‘I hate the fact that I'm overshadowing my brother'
Shannon Sharpe is 'at peace' with things following being let go from ESPN.
On Wednesday, July 30, the 57-year-old former NFL player-turned-podcaster addressed the news that after settling his sexual assault and battery case, the network had formally released him during an episode of his 'Nightcap' podcast, which he hosts alongside Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson.
'Obviously, I'm sure everybody's heard the news by now that I will not be returning to ESPN. I found out this information a little earlier in the week,' he explained.
He added, 'I really enjoyed my time at ESPN. It gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me, really just grow. They saw me [saying,] 'Lakers in 5.' They saw me saying all these funny things and analogies that my grandparents gave me. And I was able to bring that to ESPN. So, I'm very, very grateful for that.'
However, he wishes the news could have waited until next week, after his older brother, Sterling Sharpe, who had a dazzling career as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers in the late 80s and 90s, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He even urged ESPN noting his concerns of overshadowing his brother's moment.
'I said, 'This coming out would overshadow everything that he's worked his entire life for.' Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way,' Sharpe explained. 'As I profusely apologized to him earlier today, he said, 'Bro, stop apologizing. You don't have to apologize. I'm your big bro. I'm gonna love you regardless. We all make mistakes.''
After joining ESPN in the fall of 2023, the network placed Sharpe on leave in April after a $50 million civil lawsuit was filed against him in Nevada. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe (who was later named by Sharpe), accused Sharpe of rape, sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress.
The sports commentator denied all allegations, characterizing the lawsuit as a 'shakedown' and describing their relationship as consensual and complex. The case was officially settled on Friday, July 18 for an undisclosed amount and dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled.
Shortly afterward, ESPN chose not to reinstate him, effectively ending his run on 'First Take' and any future role with the company.
'They did what they felt they needed to do. I'm at peace with that,' Sharpe noted during his podcast before doubling down on how he wished the timing could be different.
'I hate the fact that I'm overshadowing my brother… My first two brothers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this is what the headlines [are] gonna be for the next couple of days,' he expressed. 'So, bro, again, I know you told me I don't have to apologize, but I'm gonna do it one final time tonight, and I won't apologize again. I'm sorry that I upstaged you in this manner. That was never my intent. You've been my hero. You've been my role model for as long as I can remember. I apologize, and I thank all my fans for supporting me when I was at ESPN and every place that I've been. Be it, 'Club Shay Shay,' 'Night Cap,' 'Undisputed,' ESPN, thank you guys for your support.'
More must-reads:
ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe following sexual assault settlement
'Love Island' star Kenny Rodriguez accused of being 'racist,' and a 'manipulative liar' in breakup with JaNa Craig
In 'Sinners' and his music, Buddy Guy is keeping the blues alive. It hasn't been easy
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Free summer concert in Gardner brings Eagles hits to Monument Park
The Long Run: Songs of the Eagles will perform at the Gardner Summer Concert Series on Aug. 9. According to a community announcement, the concert starts at 6 p.m. at Monument Park, located at Central Street and Route 101. This free event features music from the Eagles, covering their hits from the 1970s to the 1990s. The rain date is set for Aug. 10 at 2 p.m. The band includes Gardner resident Glenn Jackson and Westminster resident Dan Kirouac (formerly of Beatles For Sale), as well as Rick Barrett, Kathy Finn and Carl Bongiovi. Follow the band at Greater Gardner gears up for summer concerts starting June 14: Check out the lineup This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Monument Park in Gardner MA will echo with Eagles classics Aug. 9 Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail again ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail ahead of his sentencing on prostitution-related charges. Judge Arun Subramanian said the hip-hop mogul had failed to show sufficient evidence he is not a flight risk and also cited admissions of previous violence made during his trial. Combs, 55, has been in prison since his arrest in September last year. During a two-month trial, jurors heard allegations that he had coerced former girlfriends, including singer and model Cassie Ventura, into having drug-fuelled sex marathons with male sex workers, while he watched and filmed them. In July, he was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution - but cleared of more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking, which carried potential life sentences. The rapper's legal team hailed this a "victory" and immediately applied for bail ahead of sentencing, citing his acquittal on the top charges. After this was denied, they submitted another application last week. Judge Subramanian has now rejected the request again. In denying the motion for bail, the judge found Combs had failed to show sufficient evidence to counter arguments he is a flight risk, writing in a court filing: "Increasing the amount of the bond or devising additional conditions doesn't change the calculus given the circumstances and heavy burden of proof that Combs bears." Read more: He also found that an argument by the music star's legal team that the squalor and danger of the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), where he is being held, did not warrant release. "The public outcry concerning these conditions has come from all corners," the judge wrote. "But as Combs acknowledges, MDC staff has been able to keep him safe and attend to his needs, even during an incident of threatened violence from an inmate." As well as Combs's bail application, his legal team has also filed a motion calling for him to be acquitted or given a new trial on the prostitution-related charges only. The judge has not yet responded to this application. How long could Diddy be jailed for? Combs is due to be sentenced on 3 October and could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Discussions on sentencing guidelines which followed the jury's verdict suggest it is unlikely he will be jailed for this long, with an estimate of around two to five years, taking into account time already served. However, it is ultimately up to Judge Arun Subramanian to decide the rapper's punishment. On Friday, Donald Trump was asked during an interview about a potential pardon for Combs following speculation about the issue. The president said it was unlikely, adding that the rapper was "very hostile" during his presidential campaign. Combs, who co-founded Bad Boy Records and launched the career of the late Notorious BIG, was for decades a huge figure in pop culture - a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist and business entrepreneur, who presided over an empire ranging from fashion to reality TV. As well as the criminal conviction, he is also facing several civil lawsuits.
Fast Company
26 minutes ago
- Fast Company
AT&T to pay $177 million in data breach settlement. Here's how to claim up to $5,000
After suffering two significant data breaches in recent years, AT&T has agreed to pay $177 million to customers affected by the incidents. Some individuals could receive as much as $5,000 as part of the settlement. The cellular carrier faced two class-action lawsuits following separate breaches disclosed in 2024. The first was confirmed in April of last year, affecting 73 million current and former customers. A second breach, confirmed a short time later, in July, impacted 100 million customers. The compromised data varied by individual but may have included names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and passcodes—raising concerns about identity theft. Although AT&T has denied the allegations, the U.S. District Court in Dallas granted preliminary approval of the settlement in June. With notification efforts beginning, here's what to know about eligibility and how to file a claim. Who qualifies for compensation in the AT&T data breach settlement? People who suffered damages as a result of the breaches will be prioritized for compensation. However, any current or former AT&T customer whose data was compromised is eligible. Two separate funds have been established: one with $28 million for the April breach, and another with $149 million for the July breach. After customers with direct losses are reimbursed, remaining funds will be distributed to those whose data was stolen but who did not experience direct harm. How much compensation am I entitled to? Customers affected by the April 2024 breach may be eligible for up to $5,000 if their losses are 'fairly traceable' to the incident. Those impacted by the July breach can receive up to $2,500. If your data was compromised but you did not incur specific damages, your compensation amount is still to be determined. How do I make a claim? The notification program for the settlement started August 4 and will continue through October 17. The deadline to submit claims is November 18. advertisement On December 3, the court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing, which will make the payments final. You can begin the process of filing a claim at the website. When will payments go out? Payments are expected to be distributed to current and former AT&T customers in early 2026. How did the AT&T data breaches take place? The second breach was linked to a hack of Snowflake, AT&T's cloud storage provider. AT&T reported that hackers had 'unlawfully accessed and copied AT&T call logs,' making it one of the largest private communications data breaches in history. The first breach, however, may be even more concerning. In 2021, a hacker group called Shiny Hunters claimed to have accessed AT&T's systems starting in 2019. While AT&T initially denied the data originated from its systems, 70 million customer records were later posted for sale on the dark web in March 2024. Following further investigation, a security researcher discovered that stolen passwords could be easily decrypted. AT&T then reset account passwords and confirmed the breach on April 2.
