Just under two weeks after Shannon Sharpe departed ESPN amidst serious rape allegations, Stephen A. Smith is already advocating for his return.
In a recent chat on Big Boy TV, Smith remarked, “He insists he’s innocent. But in the court of public opinion, people tend to prioritize their own concerns, which seems to overshadow everything else.”
He added, “It’s unfortunate that he’s caught up in this right now. I really hope things settle down, and that he can get back to football next season.”
Sharpe, age 56, has repeatedly dismissed the allegations, labeling a $50 million civil suit filed by Jane Doe in Las Vegas as a “shakedown” back on April 20th.
His legal representatives have produced extensive text exchanges between Sharpe and his accuser. Lanny J. Davis, Sharpe’s attorney, stated, “The texts clearly indicate that their relationship was consensual and sexual.”
On April 23, Doe and her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, dropped an audio clip where a man, purported to be Sharpe, allegedly threatened to suffocate her publicly.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on April 24 that Sharpe would take a leave of absence from his role on ESPN’s “First Take,” where he often sparred with Smith.
In a statement, he mentioned, “I’ll focus on my family and confronting these utterly false and harmful allegations against me.”
Sharpe added, “We aim to return to ESPN at the start of the NFL preseason.”
Smith, who is also an executive producer for the show, previously spoke about his co-host’s legal troubles linked to his honorary podcast.
On April 23, he pointed out, “I brought Shannon on board… but I’m not in charge.” He emphasized, “[ESPN is] taking this matter very seriously and we’ll explore it closely. Once we gather more facts, we’ll move forward from there.”
“He only mentioned that, and I can refer to him by name.”
