ESPN Ends Ties With Shannon Sharpe After Sexual Assault Lawsuit Settlement

( NewsNation — ESPN has formally ended its association with the former NFL athlete and media figure Shannon Sharpe , according to The Athletic and the Associated Press.

The choice was made just under two weeks following Sharpe resolving a $50 million legal case involving allegations of rape and sexual misconduct with his former girlfriend.

Sharpe hasn't been seen on ESPN since April, when the legal action first began.

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A 57-year-old individual dismissed the allegations as "untrue and harmful" when they were made and expressed hope to be back in time for the NFL season.

While working at ESPN, he frequently joined "First Take" alongside Stephen A. Smith up until April. Before that, he participated in the program "Undisputed" with Skip Bayless on FS1.

Sharpe continues to be involved in the entertainment industry through his podcasts "Club Shay Shay" and "Nightcap," which he hosts alongside ex-NFL athlete Chad Ochocinco.

Sharpe spent 14 years in the NFL and was honored with induction into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2011.

He concluded his career as the top tight end in NFL history for catches (815), receiving yardage (10,060), and scores (62). These milestones have since been surpassed.

This report was supported by The Associated Press. The story was provided by The Associated Press. The Associated Press played a role in preparing this report. Contributions to this report came from The Associated Press. This news item includes input from The Associated Press.

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