Shannon Sharpe has asserted that his Instagram account was compromised after a sexually explicit video surfaced on Wednesday. The minute-and-a-half clip features an anonymous woman making moaning sounds, without showing any identifiable faces. At one point, the woman’s voice seemingly mentions Sharpe’s name.
The video began with the camera aimed at the ceiling of a room before panning downwards for the remainder of the duration. Sharpe has maintained a private stance regarding his romantic life, having been previously engaged to fitness trainer Katy Kellner in 2016, but he has never married.
Sharpe, who boasts over 3.2 million Instagram followers, attracted a significant audience for the NSFW content before it was taken down. Many users commented humorously on the situation as the video played on.
Later, Sharpe attributed the explicit content to a cyber attack. In a now-deleted post, he wrote, “Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning, my team and I are working vigorously to figure this out — UNC.”
During his 13-year NFL career, Sharpe was a three-time Super Bowl champion and is regarded as one of the premier tight ends in professional football history, earning four first-team All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl nods, along with a spot on the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade Team.
Following his retirement, Sharpe transitioned to sports media and was known for his contentious discussions with Skip Bayless on FS1’s “Undisputed” until his departure from the show in summer 2023. He has since joined ESPN as a contributor and hosts several podcasts, including the “Nightcap” show with fellow former NFL player Chad Ochocinco, where he recently criticized Ochocinco for unprofessional behavior.