Amid a lawsuit relating to sexual assault charges, former ESPN personality and NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has made another change to his career.
Sharpe announced the postponement of his popular Nightcap and Club Shay Shay podcasts “NSFW Tour” this summer.
“We’ve decided to postpone the Nightcap tour,” Sharpe said in the opening to a recent podcast. “We look forward to seeing you guys in the summer of 2026. It’s going to be even bigger, even better. But Ocho and I have come to the conclusion that this is the best thing as of right now, was to postpone the tour. We look forward to seeing each and every one of you in 2026.”
Sharpe and co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson had previously announced an eight-city tour from June through August.
In April, Sharpe was sued by a woman identified as “Jane Doe” who is seeking at least $50 million in damages and accuses Sharpe of assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery. It also alleges he intentionally inflicted emotional distress.
The woman first met Sharpe at a gym in Los Angeles in 2023 when she was 20 and a nearly two-year relationship followed, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. Sharpe, 56, is accused of raping the woman in October 2024 and again in January, court documents said.
Sharpe posted a statement from his lawyer on X saying the relationship was consensual and calling the lawsuit a “blatant and cynical attempt to shake down” Sharpe for millions of dollars.
“It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed,” Lanny J. Davis said in the statement posted by Sharpe.
Sharpe is accused of becoming increasingly verbally abusive, controlling and violent over time, once threatening to kill her and recording their sexual encounters without consent, according to the complaint.
“Sharpe flew into fits of anger when Plaintiff noted his infidelity to their relationship, or called him out about his extraneous activities,” the lawsuit said. “Sharpe even figured out how to get into Doe’s apartment complex without her permission.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
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Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com.