Shannon Sharpe comes clean about viral Instagram sex tape ...

Shannon Sharpe came clean about the sultry Instagram Live post he put out on Wednesday afternoon, sharing with his roughly 3.2 million followers live audio of himself engaged in sexual activity with a woman. 

The Pro Football Hall of Famer and ESPN personality admitted that his Instagram was not hacked and that it was in fact himself and a woman engaged in a sexual activity that he had accidentally beamed to his millions of followers.

“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,” a contrite-sounding Sharpe initially said during an emergency episode of “Nightcap.” 

“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. … 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.”

It was on Wednesday afternoon that the video went live on Instagram of Sharpe engaging in the activity with an unknown female, who could be heard moaning. 

Clips that appeared on social media showed thousands of people tuning in live for the NSFW feed. 

Sharpe initially claimed his Instagram account had been hacked in a post on X before he deleted the post and admitted Wednesday night that the event occurred because of his lack of technological knowledge. 

“I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity,” Sharpe said. “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.”

It was Sharpe’s marketing partner Jamie Fritz who was finally able to get through to alert him of the situation and it was another person who eventually ended the live video, he explained on the show. 

“My phone wasn’t hacked. It wasn’t a prank, it was me being a healthy, active male,” he added. “Ya’ll thought I was bulljiving, Unc get it in.” 

Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson did attest to Sharpe’s lack of technological awareness, telling the audience during the episode that the three-time Super Bowl champ has butt dialed him in the past without even realizing it. 

However, while Johnson did attempt to show Sharpe grace, he couldn’t help but prod him over Sharpe chastising Johnson previously over his professionalism. 

“I’m baffled. I never thought I’d see the day where you, Unc, would pull something so out of character,” Johnson said. “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.” 

While Sharpe tried to be serious at first, the two did make light of the situation and several times — including before the start of the stream — Sharpe hawked a male enhancement product that sponsored the show.