Shannon Sharpe has decided to take a break from his ESPN responsibilities to address a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault, which he vehemently denies. The lawsuit alleges that Sharpe engaged in non-consensual acts during a relationship, but Sharpe insists that the relationship was consensual. He plans to temporarily step away from his on-air duties to focus on addressing the allegations and spending time with his family. Sharpe aims to return to ESPN at the beginning of the NFL preseason. The lawsuit, filed by a woman identified as "Jane Doe," claims that Sharpe committed various offenses, including rape, battery, and emotional abuse. Sharpe denies all allegations and has labeled the lawsuit as a setup orchestrated by the plaintiff and her attorney. He has provided text messages showing a consensual relationship and has requested the full release of a sex tape to clear his name. Sharpe plans to counter the defamation claims and previously offered a settlement that the plaintiff declined.