Shannon Sharpe has spoken out after he accidentally live-streamed during an X-rated moment with a female.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer and ESPN star, 56, left fans stunned after he went live on Instagram to his 3.2 million followers by accident.
Almost 5,000 people tuned in to his live before realising that the podcaster had actually switched it on by accident while having sex, after hearing him and a female companion moaning.
Sharpe had initially put out a statement claiming his account had been hacked, but later deleted it and confessed that the accident had indeed been him.
Shannon Sharpe admitted that the live stream was him and not a hack. Credit: Julia Beverly/WireImage/Getty Images
Viewers had clipped the footage and shared it online, and although Sharpe and his unnamed companion were not visible in the video, moans could be heard throughout.
His fans flooded the comments to voice their shock, and many urged any of his friends watching to call Sharpe and make him aware that he was streaming his bedroom antics to the public.
After his sexual encounter was made public, Sharpe had initially posted on X to tell fans he was hacked, before later confessing it was really down to his lack of technical knowledge that the awkward incident occurred.
Speaking during an emergency episode of Nightcap, Sharpe addressed the situation, admitting: "Obviously I am embarrassed. 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.
"There are a lot of people that count on Shannon to be professional at all times and I always try to be professional at all times, even when I’m behind closed doors."
He added: "I’m very disappointed in myself, not for the act. I think there are millions and billions of people of consenting age that engage in activities, but for the audio to be heard I’m disappointed in myself. I let a lot of people down."
Revealing how he accidentally went live, Sharpe said: "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 sudden my other phone started going off."
Sharpe's marketing partner Jamie Fritz was the first person to get ahold of him and alerted him of what was happening, before another person eventually ended the live video for him.
He added: "My phone wasn’t hacked. It wasn’t a prank, it was me being a healthy, active male. Ya’ll thought I was bulljiving, Unc get it in."
His co-host, Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson, also revealed that Sharpe - whose nickname is 'Unc' - has never been great with his phone and has butt-dialed him several times in the past without knowing it.
Almost 5,000 people tuned in to his accidental live stream. Credit: Instagram
Johnson also made light of the situation, adding: "I’m baffled. I never thought I’d see the day where you, Unc, would pull something so out of character.
"A little unprofessional. I’m not mad, I’m thoroughly disappointed because I hold you to a higher standard. The type of standard you just tried to chastise me for just Saturday. So this has really sent me into a complete shock."
Thankfully, it seems Sharpe is able to see the lighter side of the situation - and that the phone wasn't angled in a more incriminating direction!