Shannon Sharpe Makes Difficult Decision Regarding 'Nightcap' Podcast Following Assault Allegations

NFL star and media personality Shannon Sharpe has faced significant negative press recently following a lawsuit accusing him of sexually assaulting a young adult woman between 2023 and 2025.

Now, amid the ongoing lawsuit and resulting negative attention, Sharpe has made a difficult decision regarding his sports podcast show, "Nightcap."

In a recent episode of his sports podcast, "Nightcap," which he co-hosts with Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, Sharpe announced the postponement of their upcoming summer tour until 2026.

“We’ve decided to postpone the 'Nightcap tour,'” Sharpe said. “We look forward to seeing you guys in the summer of 2026. It’s going to be even bigger, even better. But Ocho and I have come to the conclusion that this is the best thing as of right now, was to postpone the tour. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you in 2026.”

Sharpe's decision to postpone his "Nightcap" tour came a little over a month after a "Jane Doe" filed a bombshell lawsuit against him in a Nevada court, alleging the Super Bowl champion assaulted her throughout their relationship between 2023 and 2025.

In the lawsuit, Doe alleged that she met Sharpe at a Los Angeles gym and eventually formed a romantic relationship with him, which allegedly turned sour. Doe's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, released a statement after the lawsuit gained public attention, accusing the Hall of Fame player of controlling behavior.

According to legal documents, Sharpe allegedly expected Doe to "be at his house on his schedule, at his command, whenever he called."

However, the shocking accusations didn't end there. In the lawsuit, Doe also alleged that Sharpe threatened to "kill" her after learning she attempted to share her location with her friends when she was with him.

The suit read, "The moment he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and told her, 'If you ever do that again, I will f-cking kill you.'"

Also in the lawsuit, Doe alleged that Sharpe, 56, raped her on multiple occasions after she tried to end their relationship following his infamous Instagram sex scandal in 2024.

In the documents, Doe claimed the former Denver Broncos player forced himself on her while she "was crying and sobbing."

After that, the legal documents allege Sharpe raped Doe again in January 2025 after allegedly promising to provide her with gifts for the holidays.

Days after the lawsuit against Sharpe surfaced, the media personality, who was also a regular co-host on ESPN's "First Take," announced his temporary departure from ESPN for the summer.

"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."

Sharpe also assured his fans that he would return to ESPN for the football season and thanked his family, fans, and friends for their "overwhelming and ongoing support."

In response to the lawsuit, Sharpe's legal team released excerpts of alleged text messages between him and Doe, which they claim show a consensual relationship.

"To set the record straight, we are releasing several of [Doe'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 [Doe]. The evidence paints a clear picture: this was a consensual, adult relationship that included role-playing, sexual language, and fantasy scenarios explicitly requested by [Doe]."

Sharpe himself also addressed the accusations in a video statement, promising to "defend" himself against the claims and asserting he was the victim of a "shakedown."

"[Doe] 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.