• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Law

Appeals Court Sides With Shannon Sharpe in Brett Favre Defamation Case

  • The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge’s decision last October.
  • Sharpe’s comments from a September 2022 episode of his former show, FS1’s Undisputed, were the focus of Favre’s lawsuit.
Shannon Sharpe
Jason Parkhurst/Imagn Images

Brett Favre’s bid to revive his defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe was denied by a federal appeals court Monday. 

A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a federal judge’s decision last October to dismiss the lawsuit over comments Sharpe made about Favre’s alleged ties to the Mississippi welfare scandal on FS1 two years ago. 

“At the time Sharpe made the statements, the facts on which he was relying were publicly known, and Sharpe had a right to characterize those publicly known facts caustically and unfairly,” Judge Leslie H. Southwick wrote in the nine-page opinion. “Sharpe’s statements were his ‘strongly stated’ opinions ‘based on truthful established fact[s],’ and thus nonactionable.”

Sharpe’s comments from a September 2022 episode of his former show, FS1’s Undisputed, were the focus of Favre’s lawsuit against the fellow NFL Hall of Famer. 

U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett of the Southern District of Mississippi ruled Sharpe’s comments were protected by the First Amendment when he dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice—meaning Favre can’t refile the case—last fall. Favre could file a petition for a rehearing in front of the entire 5th Circuit. If that is denied, the only option left would be to file a writ with the Supreme Court, which hears a small percentage of the hundreds of requests for review it receives each year.

Favre sued Sharpe in February 2023, the same day he also filed defamation lawsuits against Pat McAfee and Mississippi State Auditor Shad White. McAfee settled with Favre with no money changing hands in May 2023; Favre’s lawsuit in a Mississippi state court against White remains ongoing. 

“So, if that is the poorest state, Brett Favre is taking from the underserved,” Sharpe said on-air. “You made a hundred-plus million dollars in the NFL, and to talk about, well, [Favre] didn’t know. This is what Brett Favre texted, ‘If you were to pay me, is there any way the media can find out where it came from and how much?’… “He stole money from people that really needed that money.”

Favre is among more than 40 defendants in a lawsuit brought by the Mississippi Department of Human Services that seeks to recover more than $90 million of misappropriated welfare funds. Favre has not been charged criminally and has denied any wrongdoing.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Hymie Elhai

Jets Say Execs Tried to Sink Team President in Bumbling Conspiracy

The team says thousands of deleted text messages show the plot.
exclusive

Bud Selig: ‘Remarkable’ Brewers Run Can’t Mask MLB’s Money Divide

The former commissioner lauds his hometown team while raising economic concerns.

MLB’s Rare October Day: Four Playoff Games, Four Possible Clinchers

Four separate clinching opportunities are available during the day.
Maverick Carter, LeBron James
exclusive

New International Basketball League Plans Launch, Without Maverick Carter

The venture plans to launch men’s and women’s leagues next fall.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.
Brian Flores

Court Again Rejects NFL Request to Send Flores Case to Arbitration

The NFL has tried to keep the case out of open court.
Jon Gruden
October 3, 2025

Jon Gruden’s Case Against NFL Gets Closer to Open Court

The Nevada Supreme Court ruled unanimously against the NFL’s appeal. 
Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans former quarterbacks Mark Sanchez (left) and Matt Leinart watch from the sidelines during the Pac-12 Championship game against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium.
October 6, 2025

Mark Sanchez, Fox Sports Sued Over Alley Fight That Turned Bloody

The high-profile incident took place Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Apr 16, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis speaks during a FIFA Club World Cup press conference at Audi Field.
October 1, 2025

San Diego Wave Owners Sue Jill Ellis for Abandoning Team After Sale

Ellis allegedly broke a pledge by leaving for FIFA after the sale.
Brian Flores
September 30, 2025

Brian Flores Asks Court to Halt NFL Arbitration

The war between Flores’s lawyers and an NFL arbitrator has heated up.
Oct 27, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans co-founder and former owner Janice McNair (left) sits with Texans chief executive officer Cal McNair and wife Hannah McNair in front of family members of Texans former player Andre Johnson (not pictured) during a ceremony at halftime of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium.
September 29, 2025

NFL Sued for $100M Over Efforts to ‘Silence’ Brother of Texans Owner

Robert Cary McNair Jr. says the NFL helped remove him from roles.
Apr 11, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Kris Murray (24) grabs a rebound during the second half against Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield (7) at Moda Center.
September 26, 2025

RAJ Sports Sues Panda Express Owners for Dumping Them in Blazers Bid

RAJ Sports says it led a group that sought to buy the Blazers.