29-05-2025
Shannon Sharpe suffers fresh career setback amid ex-NFL star's $50million rape lawsuit
Pro Football Hall-of-Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe has announced that he will be postponing an upcoming nationwide tour of his 'Nightcap' podcast which was planned for this summer.
Sharpe, age 56, announced this move on the latest episode of his podcast alongside his co-host, Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson, who was set to join him on the 'NSFW Tour'.
The move comes at a time where Sharpe stepped back from his appearances on ESPN due to a $50million rape and sexual assault lawsuit which was filed against him last month.
'We've decided to postpone the Nightcap tour,' Sharpe said in a recent episode of the podcast. 'We look forward to seeing you guys in the summer of 2026. It's going to be even bigger, even better.
'But Ocho and I have come to the conclusion that this is the best thing as of right now, was to postpone the tour. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you in 2026.'
The tour of the podcast was set to take place throughout June, July, and into mid-August.
Tour stops included Baltimore, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Chicago, and finally, Detroit.
Tickets for this tour went on sale back in late-March, however, the link to the tour has been removed from Sharpe's 'Shay Shay Media' website.
Within weeks of that tour being announced, the lawsuit dropped - accusing Sharpe of 'assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery.'
Sharpe finally spoke to his YouTube audience about the suit he's facing in Nevada - which was filed by a Jane Doe.
'Everybody knows what I'm going through,' the legendary Denver Broncos tight end told Johnson.
Sharpe has denied raping the woman, an ex-girlfriend identified in her filing as Jane Doe. Although he's continuing with both of his popular podcasts, the Pro Football Hall of Famer has stepped away from his part-time duties at ESPN.
'Stop worrying about what people who don't know you think,' he said. 'Stop worrying about that… I just need the people that I love to love me.'
Sharpe began speaking a bit slower as alluded to the rape allegations he's currently facing.
'Obviously, the elephant is not in the room, Sharpe continued. 'He outside. Everybody knows what I'm going through. Lot of people have a lot to say. But, as my brother [former Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe] been calling me, I met a lot of people, and thank y'all to everybody that's reached out and the thoughts and prayers - I sincerely appreciate that - but when you think about it, Ocho, man, 50 percent of the people don't care that you got problems.
'The other 50 percent glad that you got them.'
The attorney representing Sharpe's ex-girlfriend in her $50 million has released audio of two conversations between the former couple, which his attorney has dismissed as 'misleading.'
'I'm not really interested in getting choked,' the woman is heard saying in one tape recording first published by TMZ.
'I may choke you in public,' a man's voice, believed to Sharpe's, is said heard saying. 'Big black guy chokes small white woman.'
The woman responded after a brief pause: 'It's not a good look, Shannon.'
'Not a good look that you did what the s*** you did to me,' the man's voice fired back, although it's difficult to say what he was referring to.
The tape is eerily similar to another call previously released by Buzbee's office to in which Sharpe is heard saying: 'I'm gonna f***ing choke the s*** out of you when I see you.'
Sharpe's attorney has confirmed the authenticity of that recording, but claimed his client was speaking 'in the heat of the moment' and the violent threat was 'not intended.'
Sharpe has denied the allegations and accused the plaintiff of being financially motivated, although his attorney has confirmed he previously offered at least $10 million to settle the case with his accuser.
