ESPN Part Ways with Shannon Sharpe After Sexual Misconduct Settlement

ESPN has terminated Shannon Sharpe's employment following his three-month absence and the settlement of a rape lawsuit with an ex-girlfriend, which he described as consensual. Sharpe, a former NFL star and TV analyst, had been a prominent figure on ESPN's First Take and other media ventures. The lawsuit, filed in April and settled in July for an undisclosed amount, involved allegations of a nearly two-year relationship. ESPN declined to comment on his departure.