After a week of finger pointing and accusations of shocking sexual abuse, Take it first Co-host Shannon Sharp announced he was leaving ESPN in a lawsuit alleging that he raped a woman.
Sharp, 56, says he needs time away from the cable sports show to focus on his fight against rape accusations he is completely denialing.
“At this point, I have chosen to temporarily put aside from my ESPN duties,” he said in a statement posted on X on Thursday.
“I will be dedicated this time to my family and dealing with and dealing with these false and destructive allegations set against me,” he added. “We’re planning to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason.”
An ESPN spokesman said the network has agreed to Sharpe’s decision. NBC News It has been reported.
“This is a serious situation and we agree with Shannon’s decision to escape,” an ESPN spokesperson told the network.
Sharp and his legal team fought rape allegations in public opinion court after the woman filed a lawsuit against him, claiming that the woman had raped him at least twice.
Tony Buzby, a female lawyer, has released two audio recordings. The recording is said to be that Sharp “suffocating” her. Sharpe says the audio clips are “heavy edited” and out of context.
Sharp denied all charges and argued that the lawsuit was merely an attempt to “shakedown.”
He also accused the female lawyer Tony Buzby of “targeting black men” and threatened to sue Buzby for defamation.
Buzbee is also heavily involved in the lawsuit against rapper Jay-Z and NFL star Deshaun Watson.
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