Shannon Sharpe is reportedly leaving Fox Sports 1’s Undisputed after seven years as co-host with Skip Bayless.
Sources told the New York Post the former NFL player reached a buyout agreement with Fox Sports, the parent company that airs the one-hour program.
Sharpe will remain as co-host until the end of the NBA Finals. His final appearance on the show will likely be in June, although the network has not set a date.
An insider confirmed to the outlet that the 54-year-old’s Club Shay Shay podcast show is also leaving the network.
Sharpe and Bayless joined Undisputed in 2016 after Bayless parted ways with ESPN’s First Take alongside former co-host Stephen A. Smith.
The pair had great chemistry over the years, but tension arose after Bayless’ controversial tweet about Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin.
As Blavity reported, the Bills were playing a crucial game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January. During one play, 25-year-old Hamlin reportedly tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin then stood up and fell back to the ground seconds later, prompting officials to stop the clock.
While everyone watched the horrifying moment on television, Bayless took to Twitter and shared his thoughts on the game.
“No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.”
No doubt the NFL is considering postponing the rest of this game – but how? This late in the season, a game of this magnitude is crucial to the regular-season outcome … which suddenly seems so irrelevant.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) January 3, 2023
Many called out the 71-year-old for his insensitive remarks about Hamlin and the league’s decision to postpone the game. Sharpe said he was unhappy with his comments as well and refused to work with him the following day. Bayless then apologized to viewers regarding continuing on with the show as usual.
“I apologize for what we’re going to set out to do here today, if it offends anyone, because we’re going to try to do the show pretty much as we usually do the show,” he said during the show. “But I’ll admit up front, I’m still shook up by what happened last night to Damar Hamlin. In fact, I’m still wrecked. In fact, I’m not sure I’m capable of doing this show today.”
Sharpe returned to the show and shared his thoughts on the game and the terrifying moments he witnessed as an NFL player. He then said that he disagreed with Bayless and hoped he would take the tweet down. As he continued his monologue, Bayless interrupted him, stating that he wouldn’t remove the questionable tweet.
“Timeout. I’m not going to take it down because I stand by what I tweeted,” Bayless said.
The two seemingly had their disagreements regarding Hamlin’s incident, with many predicting their partnership would come to an end.
Sharpe nor Bayless have issued public statements regarding Sharpe’s pending departure.
