Sports journalist Stephen A. Smith dropped hints that his “First Take” co-host Shannon Sharpe has lost his job at ESPN, which is owned by Walt Disney.
Last week, Sharpe announced that he was “temporarily” stepping away from his hosting duties on ESPN. He said he will be back to cover the NFL preseason on “First Take.”
Sources at ESPN say the company planned to ask Sharpe to step down before he took a leave of absence. ESPN released a statement that read: “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”
Sharpe, 56, first joined Smith as co-host of “First Take” in August 2023. He planned to sign a $100 million contract with ESPN that would include content from his “Club Shay Shay” podcast.
I’m going to miss him, but it was not a surprise
In an episode of his podcast on YouTube, Smith explained that he will miss seeing Sharpe on the set of “First Take” with him. He suggested that Sharpe won’t be back in his former role as co-host.
“When the news came down that he and ESPN had mutually agreed that he would need to come off the airwaves of ESPN, it was a blow, a blow to the show, a blow to me personally,” he said. Smith continued, “I’m going to miss him, but it was not a surprise.”
Smith explained that working for Disney means there are certain expectations, such as a morality clause that forbids embarrassing the Disney corporation.
“He was working at Disney,” Smith said. “I’ve been at Disney since October of 2003. I know this place. I know the worldwide leader that is ESPN … it wasn’t difficult for me to figure out what was transpiring.”
Sharpe is currently fighting a $50 million lawsuit filed by an OF model who accused him of multiple rapes and physical abuse.
In her lawsuit, Jane Doe claimed she was in a 2-year “relationship” with Sharpe that began when she was 19.
However, sources close to Sharpe said there was never a relationship between Sharpe and the woman. They claim 22-year-old Doe is a sex worker who begged Sharpe to tie her up during BDSM sessions at least once a week.
Sharpe has been sued by multiple women alleging sexual assault. He reportedly settled multiple lawsuits over the years.
