Shannon Sharpe Apologizes To Nicki Minaj Over Previous Social Media Beef

NFL legend Shannon Sharpe has apologized to Nicki Minaj after the rapper threw shade at him in a new Lil Wayne remix.

On a recent episode of his popular podcast, "Nightcap," Shannon Sharpe addressed the situation before expressing his interest in sitting down with Minaj to discuss their issues.

Appearing on Lil Wayne's new remix, "Banned From NO," Minaj did what she does best when it comes to stringing words together.

“Bout to cop you slides, all you do is flip-flop / If I send a pic of Shannon, you ain’t that Sharpe,” Minaj rapped over the beat.

After the line started making its rounds, many online users commented, assuming that was Minaj's payback after Sharpe appeared to shade her on X, writing, "Nicki who?” after a fan asked if the rapper could appear on his podcast, "Club Shay Shay."

Minaj addressed the buzz on her personal X account, writing, "Yeah n—a, you thought I forgot that 'Nicki who' sh-t you did?" followed by several laughing emojis. "LMFAO jk. Ochocinco almost caught a strizzy just by being around yo crazy tail self."

During a recent episode of "Nightcap," Sharpe opened up to his co-hosts and listeners about why his earlier comment about Minaj may have been misconstrued.

“I used to go back and forth with people. I was talking about Nikki Haley,” Sharpe clarified. “Nikki Haley said it’s really great for everybody of Black America, and I was like … ‘When has it ever been great?’”

Sharpe continued, “Nicki, I was not trying to be disrespectful. Of course I know who you are. I would be remiss to say that I thought you knew who I was, or that you knew anything about 'Club Shay Shay.' I’m not that arrogant."

The Super Bowl champion's apologetic monologue didn't end there, though.

"Nicki, I apologize. I meant no disrespect," he said.

Sharpe even invited the "Super Bass" rapper to have a personal conversation with him, either on his show or privately.

"You’ll always have an open invitation if you ever want to come sit down and have a conversation. Even if you just want to have a private conversation on the phone or something. It won’t go any further between you and I," he said.

As Sharpe finished, he ended with a hopeful message, adding, “That was not my intent, but intent only matters to me because clearly you’re still offended. So I apologize sincerely, and hopefully we can move forward.”

Minaj eventually responded to Sharpe's apology, adding, "LOL - well we got a funny lil rap bar out of it."

"Thank you, Shannon, [because] I was like, 'Chiiii, what I done did now?' You never cleared it up to the Barbz so I had to avenge them."

The chart-topping rapper also addressed Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson, writing, "It's all love 4LIFE, but I know you laughed when you heard it."

Sharpe's latest incident with Minaj isn't the only thing the media personality has to worry about.

In April 2025, Sharpe, 56, was sued by a woman in a Nevada court for $50 million, claiming he sexually assaulted her over the course of their relationship from 2023 to 2025.

The shocking lawsuit contains allegations of control and rape.

"He demanded complete control over her time and body," the woman's lawyer, Tony Buzbee, wrote, "expecting her to be at his house on his schedule, at his command, whenever he called."

The legal documents also allege the NFL player raped the woman and forced himself on her "while she was crying and sobbing."

Days after the lawsuit became public, Sharpe addressed the allegations in an Instagram video, saying 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."

"[Jane 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.