ESPN Fires Analyst Shannon Sharpe After $50M Assault Settlement

Shannon Sharpe has been officially fired by ESPN following his settlement of a $50 million sexual assault lawsuit involving allegations of rape and domestic violence brought by an OnlyFans model. Sharpe, a former NFL Hall of Famer and popular sports analyst, was off ESPN airwaves since the lawsuit was filed in April 2025 and had planned to return for the NFL preseason. Despite his denial of the allegations and requests to delay the firing announcement to avoid overshadowing his brother Sterling Sharpe's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, ESPN severed ties with him citing the severity of the allegations and the network's decision that his employment was no longer tenable. The lawsuit and firing sparked widespread discussion and social media commentary, with some noting prior warnings from comedians about Sharpe's personal life. Sharpe expressed regret that the timing of the firing announcement upstaged his brother's milestone, emphasizing his wish for the focus to remain on Sterling's career achievements. His departure marks a sudden halt to his rising media career, which had included roles on FS1's "Undisputed" and ESPN's "First Take."