Former NFL star and ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe recently faced an embarrassing situation after an explicit video of him engaging in sexual activity went viral on social media. Sharpe accidentally went live on Instagram, where his followers heard him engaging in sex.
Despite the controversy, ESPN confirmed they would not take disciplinary action against the former NFL star, which resulted in severe backlash from fans who accused the sports network of showing double standards.
However, during the recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, ESPN’s veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith quickly stepped in to support his colleague. Smith addressed Sharpe’s lack of social media savvy as a reason for ESPN’s favoritism.
“To be honest with you, because nothing should happen, let me be the first to say that. Shannon Sharpe committed no crime. It wasn’t some s-x tape that he meant for everybody to hear. That’s not how he rose. I’ve gotten to know him personally. That’s not who he is,” Smith said.
“When that brother says he didn’t know he was on IG Live, he didn’t know. Because there’s very little he knows about social media,” he added.
Smith’s public backing comes after criticism from former NBA star Paul Pierce, who expressed his frustration via an Instagram Story. Notably, Pierce was let go by ESPN in 2021 after a similar controversy. Hence, he accused the network of favoritism for handling Sharpe’s situation.
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Stephen A. Smith Clarifies Air on Shannon Sharpe’s Future With ESPN
After Shannon Sharpe’s controversial incident, many wondered if the network would take action, given the embarrassment caused. However, ESPN appears to be standing by Sharpe. Smith also assured fans that Sharpe’s position at ESPN is secure.
“I’m the executive producer for First Take so if something was gonna happen to him with regards to ESPN, I’d be one of the first to know. I was on the phone with the bosses yesterday, and you know, nothing’s gonna happen,” Smith said.
The former NFL star and Smith appear together twice weekly on First Take and share a personal friendship. Hence, it’s common for Smith to support his friend and peer in the face of criticism.
