Shannon Sharpe confirmed Wednesday night on his podcast Nightcap that he did in fact engage in a sexual encounter while streaming on Instagram Live earlier in the day.
Around midday, videos flooded social media of screen recordings of Sharpe’s Instagram Live, in which viewers could hear a voice that sounded like Sharpe’s and noises that hinted he was making love. Soon after, a message appeared on Sharpe’s Instagram Stories claiming that he was hacked.
In a live reaction on Nightcap with co-host Chad Johnson, Sharpe acknowledged his slip up and said it was a staffer named Jordan who posted the hacking claim, which Sharpe deleted.
“I’m disappointed in myself. I let a lot of people down,” Sharpe said. “This was not staged. I came in, I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity. I did not know IG Live. I’ve never been on IG Live. I’ve never turned IG Live on, so I don’t know how it works.”
While Sharpe tried to make light of the situation somewhat on Nightcap, he was clearly very uncomfortable and ashamed. Sharpe said he spoke with all of his representatives and bosses after he realized the miscue, as well as his family. The ESPN and Club Shay Shay host admitted to crying earlier in the day in the aftermath.
“I’m embarrassed. Someone that is extremely, extremely private. And to have one of your most intimate details, the audio heard for the entire world to hear,” Sharpe said. “People count on Shannon, there are a lot of people who count on Shannon to be professional at all times.”
Earlier in the week, Sharpe critiqued Johnson for his lack of professionalism after showing up late for an episode. That made his Instagram accident all the more embarrassing.
To his credit, Johnson kept the “professionalism” joke up throughout the episode, while giving his analysis of Sharpe’s performance.
“We’ve got to work on your cardio, because you was breathing heavy,” Johnson said. “You shouldn’t be breathing that heavy.”
The silliness actually started right away, when Shannon Sharpe opened the show with an advertisement for Ro, a men’s sexual health company that sponsors Nightcap.
The live ‘Nightcap’ reaction to Shannon Sharpe’s explicit IG Live on Wednesday starts with an ad for men’s sexual health company Ro pic.twitter.com/WbabhUp4Ox
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 12, 2024
On a more serious note, Sharpe was clearly jarred by watching his career flash before his eyes. In 2021, Paul Pierce was fired by ESPN after he was seen smoking with scantily clad women dancing on Instagram Live. But given Sharpe’s recounting of conversations with executives at ESPN and The Volume and others in his inner circle, it seems he is safe professionally.
Sharpe is notoriously private, which he emphasized multiple times Wednesday night on Nightcap.
“I try not to put myself in situations, because I know how I am,” Sharpe said. “I’m trying to be as private as I possibly can, and in trying to be private, I made a huge, it wasn’t a mistake. An error in judgment, or whatever it was.”
As for how he will operate in the future, Sharpe said he learned one lesson and one lesson only.
“Oh I’m going to repeat that act, but the phone gon’ be in the car,” Sharpe said. “That’s the only lesson I’m thinking about.”
While the mess may end after Wednesday, it’s safe to say Shannon Sharpe will never live this one down.
About Brendon Kleen
Brendon is a Media Commentary staff writer at Awful Announcing. He has also covered basketball and sports business at Front Office Sports, SB Nation, Uproxx and more.