Shannon Sharpe is addressing the situation directly.
After explicit audio of a sexual encounter was broadcasted on his Instagram Live — an event Sharpe initially attributed to a hacked account — the Club Shay Shay host made a statement during an emergency episode of Nightcap, the podcast he co-hosts with retired NFL star Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
“Clearly, I am embarrassed,” Sharpe, 56, admitted. “I am someone who values privacy deeply, and having such a personal moment exposed to the entire world is deeply upsetting for multiple reasons.”
Sharpe went on to reflect on his responsibilities: “People rely on Shannon. Shay Shay media … ESPN, and many others depend on him. Even in private moments, I strive to maintain a level of professionalism.
I’m disappointed in myself, not for the act itself — as many consenting adults engage in similar activities — but for the lapse in judgment.”
The NFL Hall of Famer clarified that the sexual act was not “staged” and admitted he was unfamiliar with Instagram Live, having never used the feature before.
“I’ve never activated IG Live, so I wasn’t sure how it operates,” he explained.
As his phone began to blow up with messages and calls, Sharpe said he started to understand the gravity of the situation.
“My heart sank,” he admitted. “It really dropped.”
Earlier that day, the former Denver Broncos tight end had claimed in an Instagram Story that his account was compromised.
“Beware, my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning. My team and I are working hard to resolve this issue,” he wrote, signing off with his nickname, Unc.
Earlier this summer, Sharpe grabbed headlines with his public feud with Shaquille O’Neal.
The dispute began when Sharpe accused O’Neal of harboring jealousy towards Denver Nuggets player Nikola Jokic, the NBA MVP from last season. Sharpe suggested on Nightcap that O’Neal — who has only one MVP award from his Hall of Fame career — was feeling “envious” of Jokic.
In response, O’Neal dropped a diss track, labeling Sharpe as “way beneath me” and dismissing his podcast as “bulls—.”
During the Webby Awards red carpet in May, Sharpe told PEOPLE he had “no problem” with Shaq.
“He said what he said, and I’m ready to move on,” Sharpe remarked at the time.
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