Shannon Sharpe 'Temporarily' Leaving ESPN's 'First Take' Amid $50 Million Rape Lawsuit

Days after Shannon Sharpe was hit with a $50 million lawsuit that accused him of rape, the former NFL player has announced the controversy has impacted his duties at work.

Sharpe hosts the popular sports talk show "First Take" alongside Stephen A. Smith; however, he's been notably absent on the network following the news about his relationship with an adult woman in her early 20s.

On April 24, 2025, Shannon Sharpe posted an update on X, formerly Twitter, alerting his followers and supporters that the ongoing situation had caused him to step back from "First Take." However, the 56-year-old vowed to return before the summer ends.

On X, Sharpe posted an update about his position at Disney and ESPN.

"My statement is found here, and this is the truth," he wrote. "The relationship in question was 100% consensual." He continued, "At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties."

He went on to say that his plan involved dedicating his time and energy to supporting his family and "dealing with these false and disruptive allegations set against me."

Sharpe continued, assuring his fans that he'd return to ESPN and "First Take" before the end of summer.

"I sincerely appreciate the overwhelming and ongoing support I have received from my family, fans, friends, and colleagues," he finished.

On April 21, 2025, Tony Buzbee and his client, who filed under the name Jane Doe, sued Sharpe in a Nevada court for $50 million.

In the legal documents, the young adult woman claimed that Sharpe had assaulted and battered her on several occasions after meeting him at a Los Angeles gym in 2023.

According to Buzbee, Sharpe and his client's alleged relationship turned violent and controlling, and in the suit, he claimed the former Denver Broncos player "demanded complete control over [Doe's] time and body."

Later, in the suit, they also claim Sharpe threatened to "k-ll" the client and raped her more than once.

A day later, on April 22, Buzbee released a recording of a phone call that allegedly occurred between Doe and Sharpe. During the conversations, a voice presumed to be Sharpe could be heard threatening to "choke" the woman on the call.

On April 23, another alleged phone call between Sharpe and Doe hit the internet. In this call, the voice presumed to be Sharpe could be heard threatening to "choke" the woman again; however, that wasn't all.

After the female caller said she wasn't "interested in getting choked," the male voice could be heard replying, "Ha! I might choke you in public. 'Big, Black guy chokes small, white woman.'"

On Instagram, Sharpe shared a post that featured a statement from his lawyer, Lanny J. Davis.

Davis blasted Buzbee and Doe, whose real name (Gabriella Zuniga) was also shared in the statement, and accused them of filing a fictitious lawsuit filled with "distortions and misrepresentations."

The attorney at law also clarified Sharpe's interactions with Zuniga and admitted that the two were in a "consensual" relationship that involved "role-playing."

"To set the record straight, we are releasing several of Ms. Zuniga's own explicit text messages to Mr. Sharpe that clearly indicate the nature of their relationship was consensual and sexual in nature — and, in many cases, initiated by her with specific and graphic requests," the statement read.

Sharpe's legal counsel continued, "These messages are just a sampling of a broader pattern of graphic, sexual communications initiated by Ms. Zuniga. The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested by Ms. Zuniga."

Later, Davis shared sexually explicit text messages that were allegedly sent from Zuniga to Sharpe.

"I want you to put a dog collar around my neck and choke me with it while you're f-cking me," one message read.

"Only if you put that baby gravy in me," read another.

"I want you to put a big, black baby in me," a third read.

Sharpe also addressed the allegations himself in an Instagram video and claimed he was the victim of a "shakedown."

“To my family, friends, supporters, and colleagues, I want to speak to you directly and from the heart,” Sharpe said. “This is a shakedown. I’m gonna be open, transparent, and defend myself, because this isn’t right."

Sharpe continued, blasting Buzbee for allegedly orchestrating a targeted scheme against him, which he said could involve releasing a sex tape that attempts to "make me look guilty."

"Gabbi and Tony Buzbee want fifty million dollars, [but] what they’re getting is sued for defamation and trying to take me down. My career is all about real talk and honesty. I know my family and fans know exactly what this is about, and I’m going to be out there telling you whatever I need to say, just like I always do. I love all you guys," he finished.