Shannon Sharpe has revealed the truth about the explicit video, which includes audio recordings of her having sex with an unidentified woman, that was posted on Instagram Live on Wednesday afternoon.
Sharpe says 'I'm embarrassed, frankly' on Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson 'emergency' episode Nightcap “Being an extremely, extremely private person and having one of your most intimate details – a voice recording – heard by the entire world makes me feel ashamed for a number of reasons.”
Shortly after the clip was released to hundreds of thousands of fans, Sharpe posted a statement claiming that his account had been “hacked” and that “my team and I are working hard to resolve this.” The statement was deleted minutes later. At the time, many found Sharpe's reasoning a bit far-fetched. “Oh come on Unc, you got hacked and you still posted this from the same account?” one fan asked.
On Wednesday night, Sharpe admitted that the hacking story was untrue. “It was just me being a healthy, active male,” he explained, before admitting that the incident was due to a lack of technological awareness.
“I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity,” the ESPN broadcaster explained. “I didn't know about IG Live. I've never opened IG Live, so I don't know how it works, and all of a sudden my other phone started ringing.” One of Sharpe's marketing executives alerted him to the brazen broadcast. A third person was then able to end the live stream.
“My phone wasn't hacked. It wasn't a joke, it was just me being a healthy, active male,” Sharpe said. “Y'all thought I was bullying, uncle, come on.”
Sharpe continued: “There are a lot of people who rely on Shannon to always be professional, and I always try to be professional, even behind closed doors. I'm very disappointed in myself, not in the action. I think there are millions and billions of people of consenting age who are participating in the activities, but I'm disappointed in myself for the voice to be heard. I've let a lot of people down.”
Sharpe made it clear that he was remorseful during his proper apology, but that didn't stop him and his co-host from making light of the situation toward the end of the show. After Ochocinco mocked Sharpe by saying that he was “not mad” at him, just “disappointed that I held you to a higher standard,” both men read a suggestive commercial for a male enhancement product that regularly sponsors the show.