July 30, 2025 — ESPN has formally severed ties with coveted analyst and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, weeks after he quietly settled a $50 million civil lawsuit alleging rape and sexual assault. Several major outlets, including The Athletic, confirmed the network has ended its relationship with Sharpe, who had been on hiatus since the suit emerged in April 2025.
The lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as 21-year-old OnlyFans creator Gabriella Zuniga, alleged that Sharpe raped her in October 2024 and January 2025 during a turbulent, nearly two‑year relationship that began after meeting at a Los Angeles gym. She also accused Sharpe of recording intimate encounters without consent, coercion, threats, and emotional abuse.
A recently resurfaced clip revealed Sharpe set a $30,000 wedding budget for his daughters while allegedly offering a $10 million settlement to Zuniga, which she turned down.
Sharpe denied all allegations from the outset, describing the relationship as fully consensual — including elements of role‑play — and labeling the legal action a “shakedown.” He temporarily stepped away from ESPN’s First Take in April, stating he intended to return for the NFL preseason, but following the resolution, ESPN confirmed he will not be returning.
On July 18, both parties reached a confidential settlement, and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Attorney Tony Buzbee called the negotiations “protracted and respectful,” adding that “all matters have now been addressed satisfactorily.”
Sharpe joined ESPN’s First Take in August 2023 after departing FS1’s Undisputed. His signature shows —Club Shay Shay and Nightcap — continue to air, though his broader media brand has taken a major hit. ESPN has quietly replaced his role, reportedly considering figures like Cam Newton and Monica McNutt.
Sharpe had a standout college football career at Savannah State University, where he was a three-time All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection and the 1987 SIAC Player of the Year. Despite concerns over his size and level of competition, he was drafted in the 7th round of the 1990 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. Sharpe overcame early struggles to become one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, winning three Super Bowls — two with the Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. Over 14 seasons, he earned eight Pro Bowl selections and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.