The Athletic's Andrew Marchand reported that ESPN cut ties with Sharpe days after he settled a $50 million lawsuit accusing him of rape. Sharpe previously denied "all the allegations of coercion or misconduct" and stepped away from his role in April shortly after the lawsuit was made public.

“I really enjoyed my time at ESPN, they gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me really just grow,” Sharpe said on his Nightcap podcast. “They did what they felt they needed to do, I’m at peace with that. I just wish this thing could’ve waited until Monday because I hate the fact that I am overshadowing my brother. First two brothers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this is what the headline is going to be for the next couple of days.”

Sharpe shared alleged text messages sent by the plaintiff hours after the allegations were made. The plaintiff's attorney later shared alleged voice messages in which Sharpe threatened to "f**king choke the s**t out" of her "in public."

The plaintiff, who was identified in the lawsuit by the "Jane Doe" pseudonym, claimed she and Sharpe were in a "rocky consensual relationship" for nearly two years, which allegedly included Sharpe recording their sexual activities without her knowledge and sharing the footage without her permission or knowledge. The lawsuit specifies that an incident in which Sharpe "accidentally" livestreamed a sexual encounter on Instagram last year was with another woman, not the plaintiff.

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