‘OnlyFans model ruined…’: Shannon Sharpe's rape lawsuit, ESPN decision costs him millions

Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN weeks after the Hall of Famer settled a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship

Published on: Jul 31, 2025, 02:44:28 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing sources. This comes days after the Hall of Famer tight end-turned-broadcaster settled a lawsuit that accused him of sexually assaulting a woman during their relationship. Neither the channel nor Sharpe have commented on the reported decision.

Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN weeks after settling his rape lawsuit (Instagram)

About two weeks ago, the accuser's attorney announced that Sharpe has reached a settlement. However, specifics were not released. The lawsuit had sought $50 million.

Sharpe called the accusations ‘false and disruptive’ at the time they were levied and hoped to return in time for the NFL season.

‘An OnlyFans model…’

Several NFL fans reacted to Shannon Sharpe and ESPN parting ways.

“Shannon Sharpe's accuser retired from OnlyFans after agreeing to a settlement less than 2 weeks ago. Now he’s retired too 😭” one person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Shannon Sharpe really fumbled that ESPN bag over some mid,” another one tweeted.

“hannon Sharpe really fumbled the ESPN bag all for an OF girl. Sheesh,” a third one said.

The accuser has not been officially identified yet.

Sharpe, a four-time All-Pro tight end who won three Super Bowls during his 14-year career, had signed a reported multi-year contract with ESPN last year. It was reported to be worth millions.

The 57-year-old retired as the NFL’s all-time leader among tight ends in receptions (815), yards receiving (10,060) and touchdowns (62). Those records have been broken.

Sharpe has been a staple on TV and social media since retiring. He left FS1’s sports debate show “Undisputed” in 2023 and joined ESPN soon afterward. He served as a panelist on the network's morning show “First Take.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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