Cam Newton appears to fit in just fine on “First Take” after the former NFL quarterback aimed a hilarious dig at co-host Shannon Sharpe during his first day on the job.
On Friday, Newton made his ESPN debut at Tennessee State University as the show travels around the country on its HBCU fall tour. While there, the ‘First Take’ cast of pundits were asked to pick their Top 5 essentials for a college Homecoming football game.
Stephen A. Smith got the conversation started, listing things such as a marching band, lively crowd and friends. He was promptly interrupted by Newton, who argued that “the party” needed to be at the top of his rankings. “It’s the parties, Stephen A.! We ain’t worried about class. We ain’t worried about food!” he declared.
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Sharpe subsequently chimed in, adding that he’d be “worried about something else” at the homecoming that was NSFW. Picking up what the ex-tight end was putting down, Newton clapped back, “Watch out Michelle!” – sending the group into a fit of laughter.
Seemingly taken aback by what Newton said, Sharpe stormed out of camera view before declaring: “I’m gone man, he done ruined it. He ruined my evening.” Smith struggled to fight back laughter as he attempted to control the situation, stating: “We gotta go to break! We gotta go to break!”
Newton, of course, was making a reference to Sharpe’s accidental livestream of a sexually explicit act. Last month, the 56-year-old shared a minute-and-a-half-long video to Instagram in which a woman named Michelle can be heard moaning in the background.
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Cam Newton will make regular appearances on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ (
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Addressing the incident on his show ‘Nightcap,’ Sharpe apologized for the mistake and asserted that it was not staged. “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,” he began.
“Even when I’m behind closed doors, I still try to remain a level of professional although I’m in the privacy of my own home.
“And I’m very disappointed in myself. Not for the act – I think there are millions of billions of people of consenting age that engage in activities. But to have your most intimate detail on the audio to be heard, I’m disappointed in myself.
“Guys, this was not staged,” he continued. “[I] came in, I threw my phone on the bed, engaged in an activity. I did not know IG Live, I’ve never been on IG Live, I’ve never turned IG Live on, so I don’t know how it works.”
Newton, meanwhile, certainly made his presence felt on ‘First Take’ after signing with ESPN one day prior. In an official statement announcing his signing, he said: “I’ve always brought passion and energy into everything I do, and that won’t change at ESPN.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to share my perspective and go toe-to-toe with the best in the business. Fans can expect the same intensity I brought to the field, along with real talk, bold takes, and good fun.”
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