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Shannon Sharpe, a former NFL star and TV personality, was fired by ESPN earlier this week, shortly after settling a $50 million sexual assault lawsuit filed by an ex-girlfriend back in April.
And things just got a little worse.
Following his dismissal, Sharpe is facing a new $20 million defamation lawsuit from a woman named Jimalita Tillman.
Tillman claims Sharpe and his Nightcap podcast co-host Chad Johnson falsely stated she was married and that her husband was divorcing her due to a viral flirty moment with Usher at a concert in April.
“I participated in a fan engagement moment at a Usher Raymond concert where I interacted with the artist as a selected audience member,” court records read, according to the Daily Mail.
“Following this event, the defendants made and disseminated false and defamatory statements suggesting that I was married and that my husband was filing for divorce due to my participation in this audience experience,” the woman stated. “I am not married, nor am I currently going through a divorce.”
Tillman said the joking accusations made by Sharpe and Johnson have caused “significant harm to my character and reputation.”
Aunty waited for this her whole life 😫🍒 #usher pic.twitter.com/YdiZ6E5x1B
— Alangajoa (@berthsfamily) April 3, 2025
Shannon Sharpe, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was fired by ESPN less than two weeks after settling a $50 million sexual assault and battery lawsuit filed by a former girlfriend.
The lawsuit, which accused Sharpe of vile criminal acts and other misconduct during a two-year relationship, prompted him to step away from his duties with the network back in April. He initially planned to return for the NFL preseason.
ESPN declined to comment publicly on the decision to part ways, which The Athletic first reported.
Sharpe expressed disappointment that the news leaked and coincided with his brother Sterling’s Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, overshadowing the family milestone. He had requested to delay the news.
Despite the exit, Sharpe said he was “at peace” with ESPN’s decision and remains active in media through his podcasts, Club Shay Shay and Nightcap.
Shannon Sharpe talks getting fired from ESPN after settling $50 million lawsuit, says he's at peace pic.twitter.com/bV8mQ8tqEw
— Anton Daniels (@1antondaniels) July 31, 2025
RELATED: Shannon Sharpe Officially Pays To Make Sexual Assault Problem Go Away and Get ESPN Job Back
It’s bad enough he had to settle the massive lawsuit and got fired by ESPN anyway, but now he has to fight a defamation suit to boot?
Oh, and he might be getting replaced by his buddy – the Ocho.
Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Sharpe’s co-host on the Nightcap podcast, is being considered as a potential successor to retain Sharpe’s audience on Stephen A. Smith’s First Take.
A source with knowledge of the ESPN-Sharpe relationship and a former ESPN executive suggests to Front Office Sports that hiring Johnson could be a strategic move...
