Shannon Sharpe hasn’t just captured the spotlight through his career moves. Last season, his unexpected altercation with the Memphis Grizzlies left fans in shock. And now, his latest headline involves a surprising connection with Selena Gomez.

The NFL legend is known for making bold basketball statements. The former Undisputed co-host lately joined forces with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take. While his success as analyst is soaring, his recent viral moment involving a popsinger is making him the talk of the town.  

Shannon Sharpe claims Selena Gomez used him

Shannon Sharpe has transcended his sports media persona to reach a level of celebrity status. However, in the world of celebrities, there are unspoken preferences when it comes to the paparazzi. Recently, Shannon had a firsthand experience of the same.

While standing outside Giorgio Baldi, engaged in a conversation with paparazzi about the FIBA World Cup, Sharpe’s discussion was abruptly interrupted. The reason? None other than Selena Gomez emerged from the restaurant. The cameraman can be noticed to divert his attention to Gomez while Sharpe is in the middle of his sentence. When the video of this encounter hit Twitter, Shannon openly confessed that he didn’t initially recognize Gomez.

Top Stories

Caitlin Clark Shows Concerning Signs vs. Kelsey Plum During USA Camp Debut, per National Reporter

NBA Urged To Take Action After Stephen Curry, Warriors’ ‘Blatant Cheating’ Caught on Camera

Sabrina Ionescu’s LA Home Burglarized for Items Worth $60K

Victor Wembanyama Breaks Down in Tears After Death News as Fans Backtrack on NBA Cup Criticism

Did Zion Williamson Slide Into Sydney Sweeney’s DMs? Fact Checking the Viral Screenshot

Sharpe stated that if he had recognized her or found himself in a similar situation in the future, he wouldn’t hesitate to approach the singer for a photo. He also humorously claimed that Selena Gomez used him to divert the paparazzi. 

Read More: “I Ain’t Thirsty”: Hours After Selena Gomez and Shannon Sharpe Went Viral, ESPN Analyst Claims He Didn’t Know A-List Celebrity

The cameraman extended his apologies to the NFL champion following the incident, and the two resumed their conversation.

Fans flay the ESPN analyst

While Shannon Sharpe may have moved on from the incident, it’s far from over for fans. Still fresh in their minds, the encounter with Gomez sparked a flurry of remarks and opinions on Twitter.

For example, @cupoftea890 appeared to take Shannon’s lack of knowledge about Gomez personally. The user responds with, “She doesn’t even know who the hell he even is lmao.”

Meanwhile, @Solomon33John had a unique take of their own. The user encourages Chad Johnson should step in to assist Sharpe in finding a romantic relationship.

Joining the list of trolls was a sarcastic comment from @bigxoidy. Acknowledging Shannon’s take on the incident, the user dryly stated that Shannon indeed had a unique perspective.

In a similar vein, @nilley_le_chein raised doubts about Shannon’s version of events. According to the user, Gomez was merely following her bodyguard and had no connection to him. They clearly missed the humor in Shannon’s version.

Of course, some fans rallied behind Shannon as well. @dollquiver enthusiastically admired Shannon for carrying on with his interview, even in the face of disrespect from the cameraman.

Shannon’s warm and approachable personality, coupled with the fan reactions, has turned the incident into a captivating form of entertainment. What’s even more astonishing is that fan discussions seem endless.

Watch This Story: Stephen A. Smith’s Brutal Shohei Ohtani Jibes Lead to Dodgers Doubts as Two-Way Phenom’s Pitching Future Remains Uncertain

It’s almost certain that the incident will make its way into the next episode of First Take. Fans are eagerly anticipating what Shannon’s teammate, Stephen A. Smith, will have to say about the whole affair.