NFL Hall of Famer and sports commentator Shannon Sharpe is among the defendants named in defamation lawsuits filed by former quarterback Brett Favre, who is accused of taking part in the largest welfare fraud scandal in Mississippi history.
According to CNN, Favre is suing Sharpe for making "egregiously false and defamatory statements" about him and the Mississippi welfare fraud case on his show, Undisputed, per the defamation lawsuit.
The suit further alleges that Sharpe called Favre a “sorry mofo to steal from the lowest of the low" who “stole money from people that really needed that money.”
Favre's move to sue Sharpe comes after a 2020 state audit found tens of millions of dollars from Mississippi's welfare program were mishandled. A portion of the money was used to build a volleyball facility at Favre's alma mater, according to investigators. $1.1 million was also allegedly given to the former QB for a public service announcement campaign.
After a state auditor issued a demand letter for the funds, Favre returned $500,000 in May 2020 and $600,000 in October 2021. However, the auditor’s office maintains that Favre owes $228,000 in interest payments.
Favre, on the other hand, maintains that he was unaware the money came from the state's welfare program, saying last year that he was “unjustly smeared in the media.” But the state of Mississippi has named Favre in a massive civil suit seeking millions back from the misused welfare funds.
The former NFL player hasn't been criminally charged in the case.
According to reports, Favre is also suing Pat McAfee for calling him a “thief” who was “stealing from poor people in Mississippi” on a sports podcast. Mississippi State Auditor Shad White is named in a defamation suit where Favre claims he “carried out an outrageous media campaign of malicious and false accusations in a brazen attempt to leverage the media attention generated by Favre’s celebrity to further his own political career.”
“Everything Auditor White has said about this case is true and is backed by years of audit work by the professionals at the Office of the State Auditor. It’s mind-boggling that Mr. Favre wants to have a trial about that question,” White said in a statement.
“Mr. Favre has called Auditor White and his team liars despite repaying some of the money our office demanded from him. He’s also claimed the auditors are liars despite clear documentary evidence showing he benefited from misspent funds. Instead of paying New York litigators to try this case, he’d be better off fully repaying the amount of welfare funds he owes the state,” the statement continued.
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