ESPN's First Take panel will have to continue the show for the entirety of the NBA Playoffs without one of the premier voices, Shannon Sharpe. The 3-time Super Bowl winner announced that he will be taking an extended leave of absence from the company owing to the ongoing court battle.
Shannon Sharpe Steps Away from Broadcasting Duties
A 20-year-old woman, Gabriella Zuniga, has filed a $50 million civil lawsuit against Sharpe, accusing him of sexual assault and battery. According to the lawsuit, Sharpe allegedly became abusive during their relationship.
Sharpe and Gabriella Zuniga started a consensual relationship in 2023, but she alleges it turned abusive, citing specific incidents in September and October 2024, and January 2025. Zuniga is represented by attorney Tony Buzbee, who previously represented over 50 plaintiffs in lawsuits against Sean "Diddy" Combs.
The NFL legend has strongly denied the allegations, calling them false. Sharpe and his legal team claim that attorney Tony Buzbee fabricated the lawsuit to extort money from him, drawing comparisons to a similar case involving rapper Jay-Z.
Sharpe announced he'll be stepping back from his ESPN duties to focus on clearing his name and defending his image amid the allegations, as revealed in a social media post.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) April 24, 2025
“The relationship in question was 100% consensual,” Sharpe said. “At this juncture, I am electing to step aside temporarily from my ESPN duties.”
Sharpe plans to return to ESPN in August for the 2025-2026 NFL preseason. His temporary departure from the network may disappoint fans, but the ongoing legal matter takes precedence. No further updates on the case have been provided.