Shannon Sharpe’s recent Instagram live session sparked controversy due to inappropriate background noises. The NFL Hall of Famer’s Instagram account, @shannonsharpe84, hosted a live stream that featured what appeared to be sexual sounds, although Sharpe himself was never seen on camera. Many of his followers who tuned in quickly noted the explicit content.
On Wednesday, Sharpe took to his Instagram story to claim that he had been hacked, stating that he and his team were working to resolve the issue. However, he later confessed during a podcast with co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson that the incident was indeed his doing.
In his original Instagram story, Sharpe stated, “Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning. My team and I are working vigorously to figure this out,” before admitting the truth in his podcast.
During the “Nightcap” episode, Sharpe expressed his embarrassment over the situation, explaining, “I threw my phone on the bed,” and revealed that he was unaware of the live streaming until a member of his marketing team informed him about the noises being broadcasted.
“My heart sank,” Sharpe recounted in the podcast. “It dropped… Then after, I called my agent, the agency. I called ESPN… I just got to tell them the truth. My phone wasn’t hacked.”
Despite the live video being removed, it drew significant attention on social media, given that Sharpe has over 3 million followers on Instagram and more than 2 million on X. NFL great Terrell Owens humorously commented on the situation, suggesting that ESPN’s human resources department was likely very busy.
Social media users continued to mock the situation, further amplifying the incident.
Sharpe has established himself as a prominent sports analyst, with his “Club Shay Shay” podcast attracting more than 3.4 million subscribers on YouTube. Throughout his career, he earned recognition as an eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, and a three-time Super Bowl champion (twice with the Denver Broncos and once with the Baltimore Ravens) before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.