Shannon Sharpe recently found himself in the spotlight for an unexpected and awkward reason after a live stream on his Instagram account, @shannonsharpe84, drew attention for containing explicit noises. The video did not show Sharpe or anyone else, but viewers quickly recognized the adult content.
Initially, Sharpe claimed on his Instagram Stories that his account had been hacked. However, during a subsequent podcast episode, he admitted that he was indeed behind the live broadcast, expressing embarrassment over the incident.
In the Instagram story, he wrote, “Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning; my team and I are working vigorously to figure this out,” which he later retracted. On his podcast “Nightcap,” co-hosted with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Sharpe explained that he was completely unaware he was streaming live when the inappropriate sounds were heard.
“I threw my phone on the bed,” Sharpe recalled of the moment he discovered he was broadcasting. He learned about the situation when a member of his marketing team informed him. “My heart sank,” he added, revealing his immediate concern led him to contact his agent, agency, and ESPN to set the record straight about the alleged hacking.
The live video has since been removed, but the incident has not gone unnoticed on social media, particularly given Sharpe’s substantial following, which exceeds 3 million on Instagram and 2 million on X. NFL great Terrell Owens joined the conversation online, jokingly suggesting that ESPN’s human resources department was busy dealing with the fallout.
Sharpe, a highly recognized sports analyst, hosts the popular “Club Shay Shay” podcast, which has over 3.4 million subscribers on YouTube. His distinguished playing career in the NFL includes eight Pro Bowl selections, four All-Pro honors, and three Super Bowl victories, securing his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.