Shannon Sharpe Rumored To Be Fired by ESPN Amid Viral Instagram Live!
ESPN has reportedly fired renowned American sports commentator Shannon Sharpe after audio of him in an intimate moment in his Instagram Live went viral.
Shannon Sharpe joined First Take on September 4, 2023, and signed a multi-year contract extension with ESPN in June 2024, expanding his role in the show.
Furthermore, the commentator is creating a buzz online for broadcasting his intimate relationship on his Instagram Live session.
Although the individuals involved in the activity are not visible, the audio clearly indicates a man and woman engaging in a private moment.
Similarly, ESPN previously fired Paul Pierce for breaching a moral clause in his contract after he released a video of himself partying and smoking on his Instagram Live.
As a result, there is speculation that ESPN will take similar measures and dismiss Sharpe from his position.
Shannon Sharpe Claimed His Instagram Account Got Hacked Following the Incident!
Immediately after the Live ended, Shannon Sharpe posted a story claiming his Instagram account had been hacked.
His post stated,
“Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning, my team and I working vigorously to figure this out.”
However, the story is no longer available in his profile, but screenshots of his statement are circulating widely online.
Later that night, he disclosed on his podcast Nightcap that it was indeed him engaging in the activity.
He mentioned that a staffer named Jordan posted the hacking claim, which Sharpe later deleted.
BREAKING: ESPN has fired Shannon Sharpe, per @ESPNNBA pic.twitter.com/hHlwygKgJL
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) September 11, 2024
He later admitted that he didn’t realize his phone had begun broadcasting while having an intimate activity, saying,
“I’m disappointed in myself. I let a lot of people down. 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.”
In the podcast, the host explained he had talked with all his representatives and bosses after realizing the situation.
Sharpe expressed deep embarrassment about the incident, stating,
“I’m a very private person, and to have such intimate details out there for the world to hear… it’s tough.”
He assured his followers that the incident was not intentional and explained that it was genuine.
Shannon Sharpe’s recent mishap has left him on thin ice, with his future at ESPN remaining uncertain.
Additional Information
- Sharpe was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 after a stellar career as a tight end in the NFL.
- He played college football at Savannah State University, a small historically Black university in Georgia.
- Shannon’s older brother, Sterling Sharpe, was also an NFL player and a star wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers.
- The former football player won three Super Bowl championships, two with the Denver Broncos and one with the Baltimore Ravens.
