Former NFL quarterback and University of Southern Mississippi graduate Brett Favre has filed a defamation lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe of FOX Sports, Pat McAfee and Mississippi auditor Shad White. Favre claims Sharpe, McAfee and White “shamelessly and falsely” attacked his “good name” after he was accused of obtaining state funds for projects of personal gain.
“White has made egregiously false and defamatory statements accusing Favre of ‘stealing taxpayer funds’ and knowingly misusing funds ‘designed to serve poor folks,'” Favre’s lawsuit states.
In 2020, the office of Mississippi auditor Shad White discovered that at least $77 million in state funds that were designated for marginalized communities ended up in the hands of the state’s elite class.
A state audit and civil lawsuit claim that the former NFL quarterback received at least $1.1 million of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds in exchange for speeches that he never gave. Ultimately, Favre repaid the funds he was given, but the state auditor’s office demanded that he pay an additional $228,000 in interest.
Additionally, text messages displayed in the state audit suggest Favre implored state officials to use $5 million of TANF funds to build a new volleyball stadium at his alma mater. Further investigation revealed that Favre’s daughter played for the volleyball team at the time.
As reports of Favre’s alleged misconduct became more public, Sharpe called the former quarterback a “sorry mofo” who stole “from the lowest of the low” on FS1’s Undisputed. McAfee also called Favre a “thief” on The Pat McAfee Show.
“Mr. Favre has called Auditor White and his team liars despite repaying some of the money our office demanded from him,” Fletcher Freeman, a spokesman for the State Auditor’s office, said.
“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.”
Sharpe nor McAfee have not publicly commented on the matter as of now.
