Shannon Sharpe’s recent Instagram live session gained unwanted attention due to inappropriate content in the background. Followers of the NFL Hall of Famer, who operates under the handle @shannonsharpe84, were taken aback when they heard apparent sexual noises, despite Sharpe himself not appearing in the video.
In response to the incident, Sharpe initially claimed on his Instagram story that his account had been hacked, stating, “Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning, my team and I are working vigorously to figure this out.” However, during a subsequent podcast episode, he admitted that it was indeed him featured in the live stream.
On his “Nightcap” podcast, co-hosted with Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, Sharpe expressed his embarrassment over the situation. He revealed that he was unaware he was live-streaming and found out from his marketing team, stating, “My heart sank. 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.”
Although the live video has since been removed, it quickly circulated on social media, particularly given Sharpe’s substantial following of over 3 million on Instagram and more than 2 million on X. Fellow NFL great Terrell Owens joined in the online chatter, humorously noting, “I guarantee you ESPN [human resource] is BUSY RIGHT NOW!”
Many others on social media also commented on the incident in a mocking tone.
Sharpe is recognized as one of the leading sports analysts, with his “Club Shay Shay” podcast attracting over 3.4 million subscribers on YouTube. His storied career includes achieving Pro Bowl status eight times, earning All-Pro recognition four times, and winning three Super Bowl championships, two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.