Shannon Sharpe will not be returning to ESPN, as the sports network has decided to fire him just weeks after the former professional athlete settled a $50 million rape lawsuit filed against him by his much younger ex-girlfriend.
Sharpe settled the lawsuit with an OnlyFans model known as Jane Doe, who accused him of rape in late 2024 and early 2025. Though Sharpe denied the allegations and called the case a “shakedown,” the lawsuit was dismissed last week after a confidential settlement.
“After protracted and respectful negotiations, I’m pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution,” her attorney Tony Buzbee wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.”
The woman announced her retirement from OnlyFans immediately following the settlement.
Sharpe’s legal troubles are far from over. Michele Evans, another former girlfriend, is also accusing Sharpe of rape. Evans, a former sports reporter who says Sharpe raped her in 2010, claims the ex-NFL star later harassed and defamed her publicly.
She currently has two lawsuits pending, one accusing Sharpe of gender-motivated violence and another targeting media corporations she alleges aired defamatory statements about her.
Sharpe’s last appearance on ESPN was back in April.
