Shannon Sharpe is airing out his true feelings towards people who he once thought he could rely on, but have since left him in the dust following his sexual assault scandal. And trust us when we say, he’s not holding back.
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As we told you back in July, Sharpe was fired from his position at ESPN. He was a regular fixture on the network’s popular show “First Take,” but decided to take a leave of absence from it all in April following the shocking, $50 million sexual assault lawsuit lobbed against by 21-year-old OnlyFans model Gabriella Zuniga.
They would later settle for an undisclosed amount.
However, given the nature of the lawsuit and the disturbing allegations, Sharpe says he was met with swift negative reactions both on a professional and social level. In addition to his name being dragged on social media, he also had to postpone his eight-city “Nightcap NSFW” tour he was set to embark on with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson to 2026.
Now, in a new episode of his “Nightcap” podcast, Sharpe is also revealing the personal struggles he went through during that time and how it affected his friendships. Specifically, the former NFL star expressed to Ochocinco how grateful he was that he stuck beside him during that difficult time and how hard it is to trust other people now. He then shared that some of the people he once considered friends have essentially ghosted him due to his backlash.
“I know so many people Ocho and Joe [Johnson, former NBA player], that used to call, that used to text. I ain’t heard from them since this happened,” Sharpe explained. “I don’t wish this on anybody, but what it did do, was it really showed me who’s really, really there. There are a lot of people on the peripheral, when things were going well, we were at the apex. Getting invited to everything– I’m talking ’bout [they] ain’t called. Ain’t called!”
Sharpe also revealed that controversial sports analyst Stephen A. Smith has also been in his corner supporting him despite how combative he may appear to other people.
However, once video of Sharpe’s words began making the rounds on social media, some users online weren’t so quick to show him any empathy.
“Brooooo you are not a victim!!!!! You got down with that young YT girl after you was warned multiple times. On your own platform,” said one user on Instagram.
“You 50 and let a child trick you out your bag and career . Whose fault is that?” questioned another.
One other user noted, “Sometimes ppl distance themselves from bad ppl. they didn’t know you was out here wildin like that.”
Added another: “And today’s word of the day is “Accountability” you gotta learn to atone for your BS unc, can’t be out here crying cause people distanced themselves from you because you was doing foul shit.”
Straight From 
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