WATCH: Shannon Sharpe confesses to accidental Instagram live sex tape, calls It 'embarrassing'

NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has publicly addressed the viral controversy surrounding an explicit video of him engaging in sexual activity that went live on Instagram. The video, which reached Sharpe’s 3.2 million followers, quickly became a sensation on social media, leading to widespread speculation and confusion.

Initially, Sharpe claimed that his Instagram account had been hacked, but he later retracted this statement, confirming that the incident was genuine. In an emergency episode of his "Nightcap" podcast, Sharpe openly admitted that he was responsible for the video being aired and expressed his embarrassment.

Here is the video:

Shannon Sharpe confirms he was not hacked 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/4ZNDobCVdA

— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) September 12, 2024

"I am embarrassed," Sharpe said. As a private individual, Sharpe found it deeply unsettling to have such a personal moment exposed to the public. “Someone that is extremely, extremely private and to have one of your most intimate details – the audio – heard for the entire world to hear, I’m embarrassed for several reasons,” he explained.

“I let a lot of people down”, says Shannon Sharpe

NFL star Shannon Sharpe went on to emphasizing that his regret wasn’t due to the act itself, as he noted that millions of consenting adults engage in similar activities. Instead, he felt disappointed that the audio was broadcast. "I’m disappointed in myself. I let a lot of people down," he stated. 

The former football star provided more context, revealing that he had unknowingly has gone live on Instagram after throwing his phone onto the bed. He clarified that he had never used Instagram Live before and was unaware of how it functioned.

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It wasn’t until his marketing partner, Jamie Fritz, notified him that he realized what had happened. Despite the mishap, Sharpe reassured fans, stating, "My phone wasn’t hacked. It wasn’t a prank, it was me being a healthy, active male."

In the wake of the incident, rumours surfaced linking sports presenter Michelle Beadle to the video, but she quickly denied any involvement. Beadle took to 'X' (formerly Twitter) to set the record straight, writing, "It was not me."