Shannon Sharpe is within the headlines, and this time it’s not due to his booming snicker or sports activities takes on Membership Shay Shay.
The Corridor of Fame tight finish turned sports activities media determine—as soon as the co-host of Undisputed with Skip Bayless and, till not too long ago, a distinguished voice on ESPN’s First Take—is now dealing with a $50 million lawsuit from a 19-year-old girl who alleges sexual assault and battery. In response to the allegations, Sharpe has briefly stepped away from his ESPN position. And whereas the authorized case unfolds, there’s a deeper, extra uncomfortable dialog we have to have. As a result of what’s “authorized” isn’t all the time ethical. And what we enable says every part about what—and who—we’re prepared to guard.
First, the info. The civil go well with alleges that Sharpe engaged in coercive, degrading habits with a younger girl lower than half his age. Not solely does the lawsuit embrace allegations of sexual assault, nevertheless it additionally reveals deeply inappropriate, racially charged exchanges between Sharpe and the younger girl. In keeping with textual content messages launched, she made feedback about eager to have his “Black infants,” a disturbing instance of race play and fetishization. And but, he nonetheless engaged. As a substitute of shutting it down or stepping away, he selected to lean in. That alone ought to’ve been a flag — not only for him, however for everybody round him. As a result of when race is fetishized in sexual dynamics, particularly throughout vital age and energy gaps, the hurt isn’t simply private—it’s political.
Some on social media have rushed to defend Sharpe by emphasizing that the younger girl is of authorized age. But when the one justification for a 54-year-old man’s habits is that it doesn’t violate the legislation, then the ethical basis of that protection is already collapsing underneath its personal weight.
This isn’t a authorized debate. It’s an ethical one. It’s about energy. It’s about manipulation. And it’s concerning the methods we excuse predatory habits so long as the person is wealthy, well-known, or charming sufficient to distract us.
A 19-year-old could also be legally an grownup, however she is barely out of highschool. She continues to be shaping her id, studying boundaries, and determining her price in a world that consistently devalues girls and ladies. The science backs this up: the human mind, notably the prefrontal cortex that governs decision-making and impulse management, doesn’t totally develop till round age 25. However even when it did, that also wouldn’t make this okay.
Shannon Sharpe has grownup daughters of their 30s. Take into consideration that. After which ask: if a 54-year-old man pursued considered one of his daughters when she was 19, would he be tremendous with it? Would you?
It’s simple to cheer Sharpe on for “bagging” somebody three many years youthful when it’s not your daughter, sister, cousin, or niece. But it surely’s additionally wildly hypocritical. A few of the identical males defending this are the identical ones who’d burn the world down if their very own daughter got here residence speaking a few man in his 50s or 40s or 30s or courting in any respect. Let’s cease pretending we don’t see the double customary.
These are additionally the identical males who degrade girls for having OnlyFans—a web-based subscription platform that permits individuals to share grownup content material instantly with paying subscribers—however will flip round and spend lease cash at strip golf equipment or slide into DMs begging for consideration. The identical males who choose her for a way she makes a dwelling are those fueling the demand.
This isn’t nearly Shannon Sharpe. That is about what number of males like him exist in our communities. In our circles. At our church buildings. In our group chats. Males who abuse energy dynamics and get celebrated for it. Males who use wealth, age, or standing to coerce affection, then disguise behind authorized definitions of consent when the hurt turns into public.
It’s additionally necessary to deal with a frequent deflection: the declare that Black individuals don’t maintain white males to the identical customary in instances like this. That assertion is solely not correct. The #MeToo motion itself was sparked by public allegations in opposition to Harvey Weinstein, a white man who was ultimately convicted after many years of reported sexual violence. Leonardo DiCaprio has confronted sustained public criticism for his sample of courting girls considerably youthful than him, all underneath the age of 25. Russell Model is at the moment underneath investigation following a number of allegations of sexual misconduct. In different phrases, white males have been, and proceed to be, publicly scrutinized and held accountable for related habits by Black individuals even when not by case legislation..
The difficulty isn’t that Black males are unfairly criticized—it’s that too many people are uncomfortable holding Black males accountable once they trigger hurt. And that’s what makes it simpler for folk like Invoice Cosby, R. Kelly, Russell Simmons, and others to get away with sexual violence for many years. It’s not that nobody knew. It’s that too many individuals refused to imagine—or just didn’t care.
Take into account the general public response to the current scenario involving Draya Michele, a 39-year-old girl, and Jalen Inexperienced, a 23-year-old NBA participant, after information emerged that she was pregnant. The response was swift: social media was flooded with commentary questioning the age hole, and plenty of raised considerations about grooming and energy dynamics. Folks requested—rightfully—how the response would possibly differ if the roles had been reversed. And that’s exactly the purpose: vital age and energy disparities ought to increase considerations, no matter gender. When a person with way more life expertise, affect, and entry engages with somebody simply getting into maturity, it warrants scrutiny. So why is it reframed as an achievement or “relationship targets” when the older get together is a person?
We’ve to assume extra critically about what we condone underneath the banner of maturity. Simply because somebody is legally allowed to consent doesn’t imply they’re in an equal place to take action. Energy imbalances matter. Age gaps matter. Intentions matter — particularly when the older individual holds extra social, monetary, and emotional leverage.
And I actually hope individuals are paying consideration—not simply to what’s being stated in headlines or on Threads, however in their very own lives. I hope they’re listening to what’s being stated in barbershops, at brunch tables, on FaceTime calls. As a result of the protection of predatory habits doesn’t simply occur out loud; it occurs in silence too.
Predators don’t thrive as a result of they’re geniuses. They thrive as a result of individuals shield them. They get away with it as a result of we glance away. As a result of we keep quiet. As a result of we inform ourselves it’s not that dangerous. Till it’s.
So no, this isn’t nearly Shannon Sharpe. It’s a few tradition that has made it far too simple for males to use youthful girls and name it recreation. It’s a few tradition that refuses to acknowledge hurt except it ends in legal conviction. And it’s about whether or not we’re prepared to maintain letting “authorized” be the ground when “moral” needs to be the usual.
Discomfort within the face of those truths is just not solely anticipated—it’s essential. It ought to immediate reflection, accountability, and a deeper reckoning with the cultural norms we’ve lengthy accepted. As a result of if we fail to confront these patterns now, we’ll proceed to see them repeat. Completely different names, identical dynamics. And with each excuse we make, we ship a transparent message to survivors: that their ache is the price of our silence. It ought to by no means be.
It’s not. And it by no means ought to have been.
Preston Mitchum is the founding father of PDM Consulting, primarily based in Washington, D.C. His work focuses on racial justice, gender fairness, LGBTQ+ liberation, and the pursuit of insurance policies that transfer past symbolism to create lasting change.
SEE ALSO:
Op-Ed: Shannon Sharpe’s Fumbles Solely Elevate Extra Questions