Shannon Sharpe will not return to ESPN following the settlement of a $50 million rape lawsuit , according to The Athletic . Sharpe, who appeared on the morning series First Take , first stepped away from the network in April when details emerged of the lawsuit in which he was accused of sexual assault and sexual battery. At the time, he said he planned to return “at the start of the NFL preseason” and described the hiatus as being temporary.

Reps for ESPN and reps for Sharpe did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone ‘s requests for comment.

When Shape announced plans to temporarily halt appearances on the network, ESPN said in a statement regarding the motion: “This is a serious situation, and we agree with Shannon’s decision to step away.”

The civil complaint filed

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