Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe over Mississippi welfare scandal gets dismissed by federal judge

Defamation lawsuit was filed by Favre when Sharpe was working with FS1.

Brett Favre’s defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe over Mississippi welfare scandal gets dismissed by federal judge

Shannon Sharpe (L) and Brett Favre (R) (Credits: Imago)

Earlier this year, the former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre shockingly filed a defamation lawsuit against Pat McAfee and Shannon Sharpe over the Mississippi Welfare scandal. Favre alleged that McAfee and Sharpe made “false and defamatory” statements about the former NFL QB’s role in a Mississippi welfare fraud case. Later, McAfee and Favre settled their differences outside of court, which led to the former Packers QB ending the case.

And now, a federal judge has dismissed Favre’s lawsuit against Sharpe, claiming that Sharpe’s comments “are constitutionally protected” and that no one listening to him on “Undisputed” would’ve thought that Brett Favre actually went into poor people’s house and stole money from them.

YouTube video
No reasonable person listening to the broadcast would think that Favre actually went into the homes of poor people and took their money—that he committed the crime of theft/larceny against any particular poor person in Mississippi.
U.S. District Court Judge Keith Starrett wrote in a filing.

Furthermore, the judge also stated that Sharpe’s comments were simply made in the context of the media’s coverage of Brett Favre’s alleged role in the Mississippi Welfare scandal.

FS Video
Sharpe’s comments were made against the backdrop of longstanding media coverage of Favre’s role in the welfare scandal and the state’s lawsuit against Favre. Listeners would have recognized Sharpe’s statements as rhetorical hyperbole.

The federal judge Keith Starrett went on to note how Shannon Sharpe pointed out multiple times that Favre wasn’t criminally charged in the Mississippi welfare fraud case. Favre still hasn’t been criminally charged in that case. Nonetheless, a representative for Favre told ESPN that they weren’t happy with the verdict and said that they respectfully disagree with the court’s decision.

Shannon Sharpe addresses the defamation lawsuit on social media

After the federal judge’s verdict that dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by Brett Favre against Shannon Sharpe, the ESPN personality took to social media to address his victory.

Shannon Sharpe Falcons Cowboys
Shannon Sharpe (Image via SI)

Sharpe posted a small statement on his X profile and thanked his legal team for handling the case. The defamation suit was filed back in February and it has finally ended for Sharpe nearly after 10 months.

Favre has appeal rights, but he would be more worried about the civil action lawsuit he is facing for his involvement in the welfare scandal. The Pro Football Hall of Famer is accused of getting paid $1.1 million in TANF funds for speeches he did not make.

Favre had paid the money back, but the state auditor demanded the former Green Bay QB should also pay $228,000 in interest. Additionally, Favre is also accused of using $5 million in TANF funds to build a volleyball stadium for his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, during the time his daughter was on the volleyball team. So far, Favre has denied any wrongdoing.

In case you missed it: