ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said Friday he had no role in Shannon Sharpe’s departure from ESPN this summer, pushing back on speculation he influenced the network’s decision to let go of his former “First Take” co-host.

On Friday’s episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” Smith said ESPN management made the decision.

“Certain decisions are above my pay grade,” Smith said. “... He’ll always have a friend in me. I’ll always be here for him. Anything I can do, I will do. But there’s certain things that I have no control over, and that is just the situation that it is. But Shannon and I talk often, I call and check on him every chance I can, and I’m always rooting for him, and I’m always going to root for him.”

In April , a woman filed a lawsuit against Sharpe for sexual assaul

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