NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe breaks his silence on his ESPN firing, after settling his $50 million sexual assault lawsuit, and profusely apologizes to his fans and brother Sterling Sharpe.
As we previously shared, a woman sued Sharpe in April for alleged assault, sexual assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The NFL player-turned-podcaster vehemently denied the claims, and soon announced that he would be “temporarily” stepping down from his role at ESPN, possibly returning before next season’s start.
Additionally, his attorney, Lanny J. Davis, claimed the former baller offered his accuser — who filed as Jane Doe, but Sharpe identified as OnlyFans model Gabriella Zuniga (aka “Gabbi” or “Karli”) — $10 million to settle before filing. After months of public and legal scrutiny, Sharpe and his accuser privately settled on undisclosed terms as of July 18.
Earlier today (July 30), ESPN announced that they were parting ways with Shannon Sharpe weeks after he settled his alleged rape case.
Later this evening, Sharpe took to his ‘Night Cap’ show with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and broke his silence. The ‘Club Shay Shay‘ podcast host said he asked to keep the announcement for Monday, August 4. He said he didn’t want his news to outshine that of his brother, former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe, who was getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Friday, August 1. While profusely apologizing to his fans and his brother, he said:
“Obviously, I’m sure everybody’s heard the news by now that I will not be returning to ESPN. I found out this information a little earlier in the week. The only thing that I really asked [was if we could] wait until Monday [August 4, 2025]. My brother [Sterling Sharpe] is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I really want[ed] it to be about him and I want[ed] it to be about my family.
I said, ‘This coming out would overshadow everything that he’s worked his entire life for.’ Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way. So, as I told him… as I profusely apologized to him earlier today, he said, ‘Bro, stop apologizing. You don’t have to apologize. I’m your big bro. I’m gonna love you regardless. We all make mistakes.’ He said, ‘Bro, I love you. So. I’m done with this. You’re done with it too. Move on.’ I really enjoyed my time at ESN. It gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me, really just grow. They saw me [saying,] ‘Lakers in 5.’ They saw me saying all these funny things and analogies that my grandparents gave me. And I was able to bring that to ESPN.
So, I’m very, very grateful for that. But, I just wish, of all things… Like I said, they did what they felt they needed to do. I’m at peace with that. But, I just wish, guys, I just wish this thing could’ve waited until Monday. Because I hate the fact that I’m overshadowing my brother… My first two brothers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and this is what the headlines [are] gonna be for the next couple of days.
So, bro, again, I know you told me I don’t have to apologize, but I’m gonna do it one final time tonight and I won’t apologize again. I’m sorry that I upstaged you in this manner. That was never my intent. You’ve been my hero. You’ve been my role model for as long as I can remember. I apologize and I thank all my fans for supporting me when I was at ESPN and every place that I’ve been. Be it, ‘Club Shay Shay,’ ’Night Cap,’ ‘Undisputed,’ ESPN, thank you guys for you support.”
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