Stephen A. Smith Speaks Out On Shannon Sharpe After His ‘First Take’ Absence Amid Rape Lawsuit

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ESPN’s “First Take” presenter, Stephen A. Smith, discussed the choice made by Shannon Sharpe and ESPN for Sharpe to temporarily step away from the daily sports debate program following accusations of sexual assault in a court case.

Sharpe, countering the accusations, announced he’d momentarily relinquish his ESPN responsibilities to deal with the lawsuit. He expressed hope to be back by the start of the NFL season.

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Confronted with allegations, Sharpe opted to take a short break from his ESPN roles to handle the lawsuit, aiming to return before the NFL season commences.

On his YouTube program, Smith spoke about the accusations for the first time and discussed Sharpe’s choice to take a break, highlighting his longstanding personal relationship with the analyst and the host of Club Shay Shay.

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In a recent episode on his YouTube channel, Smith talked publicly for the first time about the allegations against him and Sharpe’s decision to step back, focusing on the strong bond he shares with the analyst and the Club Shay Shay host.

As a gamer speaking up on the matter, let me clarify my stance: I unequivocally do not believe Shannon Sharpe is guilty of the accusations levied against him. The man I’ve come to know and respect doesn’t seem like someone who would engage in such behavior, and I want to make that point strongly. However, it’s crucial to emphasize that this is my personal opinion. I don’t claim to know anything beyond what I feel about him, because the truth is, I don’t possess any additional information regarding the case.

I’ll always be there for him whenever he needs me, just like I promised I would be for Skip Bayless when he left Fox, the same way I am with all my friends. That’s what friends are for – standing by each other even in the hardest moments, and sometimes even more so then. They won’t always agree with you or prevent you from making mistakes, but they’ll be there to help you up when no one else will.

Smith added that he understood why Sharpe had to step back from his ESPN role.

This week has been tough, especially regarding the sports media scene and First Take. Shannon Sharpe was more like a colleague after I invited him to join ESPN’s First Take. He proved to be exceptional in his role and significantly elevated the show last year. We were continuing our successful run this year as well. So, when the news broke that he and ESPN had decided amicably for him to step away from the airwaves, it was a shock – a shock not only to the show but also to me personally because I’ll miss working with him.

Smith pointed out that he’s been part of Disney since October 2003 and ESPN for a long time. He acknowledged a brief absence from ESPN between 2009 and 2011. Smith stated that when allegations against Shannon Sharpe surfaced, it was awkward and not aligned with Disney’s brand image. With the information presented by Sharpe’s lawyer, Disney didn’t want such content linked to their brand. Therefore, having Sharpe on air during that time wasn’t something Disney would tolerate. This is what Smith meant when he expressed he wasn’t surprised.

And Smith ended his segment by hoping that Sharpe would return to TV.

Smith expressed, “I’ve finished speaking, but I want to add that I hope he returns to the broadcasting world on linear TV discussing football soon. He truly understands football, and he entertains us brilliantly when he talks about it. I will surely miss him.

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2025-04-26 03:25