New Orleans, Louisiana – Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre is seeking to revive a defamation lawsuit he filed against former tight end Shannon Sharpe. This legal battle unfolds amidst a Mississippi welfare scandal, a significant public corruption case in the state. A federal judge had previously dismissed the lawsuit in October, ruling that Sharpe’s comments criticizing Favre on a sports broadcast fell under constitutionally protected speech.
During a September 2022 broadcast of the Fox Sports show “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed,” Sharpe accused Favre of theft, alleging that Favre had taken money from those who needed it most. Favre’s lawyer argued that these statements constituted defamation, as they were perceived as literal accusations of theft by a reasonable listener.
On the other hand, Sharpe’s attorney contended that his client’s remarks were merely expressions of opinion in response to a news report on the Mississippi welfare scandal. The lawsuit is now in the hands of a panel of 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges in New Orleans, awaiting a ruling on whether it should be revived.
The Mississippi welfare scandal involves millions of dollars misspent by the Department of Human Services, intended to aid the most vulnerable populations. Favre was implicated in the scandal for receiving speaking fees from a nonprofit organization funded by the Department, prompting the demand for repayment of $729,790 in addition to the already returned $1.1 million.
Despite the allegations, Favre denies any wrongdoing and has not faced criminal charges. He is among a long list of individuals and entities being sued by the Mississippi Department of Human Services in connection to the misappropriation of funds. U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett had previously determined that Sharpe’s comments constituted protected “rhetorical hyperbole,” thus leading to the dismissal of Favre’s initial lawsuit.
As this legal saga continues, the fate of Favre’s defamation case hangs in the balance, with implications for how public figures are held accountable for their statements in the realm of sports broadcasting.