Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe was quick to resort to the tactic of blaming hackers for a sex act that was broadcast live on his Instagram on Wednesday.
However, later in the day, he confessed that he had accidentally activated Instagram Live while engaging in intimate “activities.” The clip is essentially audio, as the camera is mostly focused on the ceiling and floor while a woman can be heard moaning.
“Of course I’m embarrassed,” the ESPN star said on his podcast “Nightcap,” which you can watch below. “I’m very disappointed in myself. … I’ve let a lot of people down.”
Sharpe blamed a lack of technical understanding for the leak.
“I came in, threw my phone on the bed and was engaged in an activity,” he said. “I didn’t know about IG Live. I’ve never been on IG Live, I’ve never turned on IG Live, so I don’t know how it works.”
Sharpe discovered the mishap when his marketing representative urgently informed him that he had just live-streamed the interlude for his millions of followers to hear.
“My heart sank,” Sharpe said. “It sank. … I called my agent, I called the agency, I called ESPN and I (thought) I just have to tell them the truth. My phone wasn’t hacked, it wasn’t a prank. I was a healthy, active man.”
The three-time Super Bowl winner signed a deal earlier this year to expand his role on ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim.
Fast forward to 8:30 for Sharpe’s explanation:
HuffPost did not receive an immediate response from ESPN after requesting comment.
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