NFL legend Shannon Sharpe has come forward to admit that he could potentially lose millions of dollars after accidentally live-streaming himself engaging in sexual activity on Instagram.
Sharpe, who initially claimed that his account had been hacked, has now confessed that the male voice heard during the incident was indeed him, leading to potential fallout with sponsors and business partners.
The embarrassing stream occurred on Wednesday when Sharpe’s Instagram account unexpectedly began broadcasting, capturing audio of the former NFL star having sex with a woman he referred to as ‘Michelle.’
After initially denying responsibility, Sharpe later owned up to the mistake during his Nightcap show, explaining the accident and the consequences that followed.
Although Sharpe’s employer, ESPN, decided to retain him as a host on First Take, the financial ramifications of the incident could be significant, with other sponsors and guests reconsidering their partnerships with him.
On Thursday, Sharpe addressed the issue on his show, candidly revealing the financial impact the incident could have on his career.
“I want you all to ask yourselves this question. To refute any rumor, would you be willing to forfeit a 100 or 200 million US dollars to refute it and sell some merchandise?” Sharpe posed to his audience.
He explained that his media company, Shay Shay Media, has a full staff of 10 employees, all of whom depend on him, even when shows like Nightcap and Club Shay Shay are not filming.
“We got six and seven million figure sponsors in advertisements saying ‘well Shannon, I do not know if we can continue this relationship,’” he added.
Sharpe expressed concern about losing key sponsorships as companies weigh their continued association with him in light of the incident.
Sharpe further elaborated that Shay Shay Media is now a “free agent,” meaning he could potentially take his shows to other platforms.
“My company, Shay Shay Media, is about to be a free agent, which now means NightCap and Club Shay Shay we can take wherever we want to go,” Sharpe explained.
“Could stay with The Volume, which is a very, very strong possibility. Next five to six years, potential 120 to 200 million dollars. You think I would be willing to risk that to do this?”
Despite the financial risks, Sharpe reiterated that the incident was purely accidental, stemming from his limited tech skills.
However, his co-host, Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson, pointed out that starting a live stream requires multiple steps, making such an accident rare. Sharpe also acknowledged receiving a humorous call from comedian Kat Williams, who joked about the woman he was with, saying, “at least it was Michelle and not Michael.”
As the fallout continues, Sharpe’s candid admission highlights the potential consequences of the incident on his career, with millions of dollars on the line and the future of his media company in question. The NFL Hall of Famer now faces an uncertain financial landscape as he works to repair his reputation and regain the trust of his sponsors.
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