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On Monday, three judges in a federal appeals court ruled against Brett Favre in his attempt to revive a defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe that had previously been dismissed in 2023.
Brett Favre’s lawyer, Amit Vora, argued to the three 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in New Orleans that the lawsuit should have been reinstated because “Sharpe accused Favre, who has not been charged with a crime, of theft.”
They disagreed and affirmed the decision to dismiss the lawsuit by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett of the Southern District of Mississippi.
On Thursday, Shannon Sharpe talked about the court of appeals rejecting Brett Favre’s request, essentially putting the entire matter to rest.
“Hopefully, look, there’s a chance he tries to throw a Hail Mary and take it to the Supreme Court. Who knows?” Sharpe said to his Nightcap podcast co-host Chad Johnson.
“The money, he paid the original, but they said he owes interest that hasn’t been paid back,” Sharpe continued. “That’s what was reported. I was speaking on what was reported. Now, at the time, I said he took money, Skip said he paid it back. I said, ‘And what about the interest?’ It’s been reported that the interest hasn’t been paid back, and like the funds went, some of the funds, $5 million, $4 million, or something, went for a volleyball arena. And so, you know, I was surprised that he filed a lawsuit.”
Sharpe now hopes that the lawsuit being dismissed again is that end of the issue.
“Hopefully it’s over,” he said. “I really do, Ocho, I hope it’s over. I wish Brett nothing but the best. I heard either tomorrow or next week, he’s going before Congress, and they’re going to ask him some questions about the funds. What he knew, how much he knew, when did he know, what did he know, and so, I just want the people of Mississippi to have their day in court. That was wrong; however, it got out that the funds were misappropriated, and I want the people of Mississippi to be made whole because that’s the poorest state in the U.S. Mississippi is the poorest.
Shannon Sharpe concluded, “I just hate that the people of Mississippi, and I don’t know why people would do that, but I’m just glad it’s over. I wish Brett the best. I wish the people in Mississippi that they get their day and let justice be served. That’s where I am on that.”