ESPN broadcasting personality Shannon Sharpe has found himself in hot water following a recent scandal that has come to light involving an OnlyFans model. With three women reportedly accusing him of sexual misconduct since 2010, ESPN sources suggest that Sharpe is possibly already banned from the network and is likely never to return.
On Easter Sunday, the NFL Hall of Famer was facing a $50 million lawsuit over alleged sexual misconduct, filed in Clark County, Nevada. Although Sharpe was quick to deny these claims, it appears that there may have been more to the story.
The reports from these claims suggest that the woman, identified as “Jane Doe” and Sharpe, met in 2023 and had a consensual relationship at the start. However, the reports then mark that this quickly turned into an abusive one, with two instances of assault as well.
Doe also claimed in her suit that the second instance happened in 2025, when Sharpe came over to her apartment on the pretext of delivering Christmas presents and birthday gifts and eventually forced himself on her.
The former NFL tight end was also facing media scrutiny following a sexual encounter with another woman that was displayed on an Instagram livestream. This reportedly caused more emotional distress to Doe. However, this lawsuit brought a lot more information to light.
Sharpe has referred to this lawsuit as a “shakedown”, claiming it was an effort by the defendant’s lawyer, Tony Buzbee, who had targeted Jay-Z in the past as well. He has also been direct in identifying the individual accusing him as an OnlyFans model known as Carly. However, in light of the 56-year-old denying the claims, the situation has taken a turn.
Recent evidence has seen leaked chats between Sharpe and his accuser, revealing the details of their conversations while confronting him about using protection.
In addition to this, Buzbee and his team had also presented a recording of a phone call in which a man, supposedly identified as Sharpe, threatened the plaintiff.
Shannon Sharpe has had a history of problematic cases against him. The NFL tight end faced domestic violence allegations back in 2010. The defendant filed a restraining order against Sharpe. In response, Sharpe had left CBS for a brief period till matters were resolved. The restraining order was eventually dismissed without any criminal charges being filed.
The controversial state of affairs has garnered a massive dip in Sharpe’s reputation on media platforms. In light of this, it seems increasingly likely that the NFL Hall of Famer will be banned from ESPN.
Shannon Sharpe’s Career in Broadcasting
Shannon Sharpe has been one of the most popular figures in sports media in recent years. His career in sports broadcasting took flight after a fruitful NFL career, with Sharpe joining CBS’ “The NFL Today” in 2004.
After his stint with CBS, Sharpe expanded upon his coverage of sports by joining Skip Bayless on FS1’s “Undisputed” in 2016. Sharpe’s popularity grew massively at this stage as the banter between him and Bayless drew in a lot of viewers to the show. The passionate debates, as entertaining as they were, eventually hurt the relationship between the two, as Bayless often crossed the line, leading to Sharpe leaving the show in 2023.
Shortly after leaving Undisputed, the NFL Hall of Famer joined the team of ESPN’s “First Take” alongside Stephen A. Smith. The hilarious comments made by Sharpe became a staple on the show and a delight for the fans, leading to the show seeing a rise in ratings.
Although his time at ESPN was also marked by the infamous Instagram live stream incident, he received much support from the crew at this time.
Alongside his broadcasting activities, Sharpe also had his own podcast listed under The Volume network called “Club Shay Shay” that started in 2020. The podcast took a turn from his usual sports conversations and focused more on the cultural aspects, featuring guests such as Steve Harvey and Katt Williams, to name a few.
Although Sharpe has been an entertaining presenter who has gained many fans over the years, he may not find himself in a positive situation in light of the recent allegations. With public and media scrutiny becoming a driving force behind the case, the NFL Hall of Famer is likely to see himself out of the world of sports broadcasting.
