A former American football player received an offer to enter the adult film industry after accidentally live-streaming a private moment.
Shannon Sharpe, celebrated for his three-time Super Bowl victories as a tight end with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens, encountered a major mishap with social media.
Now 56 and a sports analyst for ESPN, covering both the NBA and NFL, Sharpe’s recent incident may have marred his reputation somewhat.
On Wednesday (11 September), in a moment of passion with an unnamed woman, Sharpe tossed his phone aside not realizing it would go live on Instagram to his 3.2 million followers.
Although the phone captured only the ground, the audio of their encounter was broadcast live, much to the shock of thousands of viewers.
After the incident, Sharpe initially claimed his account was hacked, stating on his story, “Beware my @shannonsharpe84 Instagram was hacked this morning, my team and I are working vigorously to figure this out — UNC.”
However, he later acknowledged his mistake and addressed the issue on his show, Nightcap.
During the broadcast, Sharpe expressed his remorse: “I’m embarrassed for a number of reasons. People count on Shannon to be professional, even when I’m behind closed doors.”
“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 a number of reasons,” he admitted.
Sharpe elaborated on his feelings of disappointment, noting, “I’m very disappointed in myself, not for the act. There are millions and billions of people of consenting age who participate in activities.”
“I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity. I did not know IG live. I’ve never turned IG live on so I don’t know how it works and all of a sudden my other phone started going off.”
Despite the mishap, it appears that Sharpe has received a lucrative offer to capitalize on his unintended viral moment.
The adult website ‘The Porn Dude’ has extended a $100,000 (£76,500) proposal for him to appear on camera.
A spokesperson for the website told TMZ, “We would love to offer him a solid $100,000. If he’s looking to make a career change, tell him we’ve got a jersey ready for him!”
However, based on his public apology, it seems unlikely that Sharpe will accept the offer. He appears to be more embarrassed by the incident than enticed by the prospect of joining the adult industry, emphasizing his disappointment and the private nature of the incident.
In the video, audible moans could be heard, and the woman seemed to say Shannon’s name, although Sharpe did not identify her during the livestream.
Screenshots from the Instagram Live that have circulated online show that at one point, over 6,500 people were watching.
Sharpe, who has never been married, is a father to three adult children—a son and two daughters.