The “undisputed” presenter Shannon Sharpe has hit back at a social media user who appears to have blamed him for NBA star Ja Morant’s gun scandal.
Morant, 23, was banned for at least two games on Saturday after he appeared to point a gun in a shocking Instagram Live video while posing topless at a strip club in the early hours of the morning.
The Memphis Grizzlies player has made headlines for the past week for all the wrong reasons, with the latest scandal being his fourth gun-related incident.
Sharpe had criticized Morant on his “Undisputed” show with Skip Bayless on Thursday morning after the point guard was the subject of multiple allegations of violence and threats.
The former NFL player had warned Morant to “move differently” after being the subject of negative reports.
Shannon Sharpe has hit back at claims blaming him for NBA star Ja Morant’s gun scandal. Ja Morant appeared to flash a gun in a shocking Instagram Live video
“He shows that he is something he is not,” Sharpe said. “Usually guys who have that are like, ‘Okay, I’m cool. I did it. I’m doing well.’ Guys who didn’t make it want to show they’re good. I don’t understand Ja, he’s racing backwards.’
“Yes, just move differently, that’s the only advice,” Sharpe continued. “I would never give you advice on how to play basketball, but I would try to give you advice on how to move. Let someone else’s lesson be your lesson.’
However, after news of Morant’s latest controversy broke on Saturday, a social media user appeared to accuse Sharpe of shaming the guard for misbehaving.
“So I didn’t think Shannon Sharpe should shame Ja the way he did because people like Ja just act dumber when you do it,” they wrote.
Sharpe sarcastically hit back, quoting the post and writing: “Now it’s my fault for behaving like this? got it’
Sharpe had also stirred the pot on Saturday morning after following Morant’s Instagram live in the early hours.
He tweeted, “Did anything interesting happen while I was sleeping last night? Fill me in Twitter’
Sharpe was involved in a notable altercation with members of Morant’s entourage earlier this season – including Ja’s father Tee Morant.
Sharpe had criticized Morant after the point guard became the subject of multiple allegations
Sharpe was involved in a verbal confrontation with Memphis players at halftime, which stemmed from the former tight end yelling at Grizzlies veteran Dillon Brooks as the players headed toward the locker rooms.
Memphis center Steven Adams appeared to take offense and confronted Sharpe, 54, who refused to back down, resulting in Sharpe being restrained by security guards.
In the Instagram clip from Saturday, which was shared widely on Twitter immediately after it was posted to his page, Morant dances topless at a strip club before appearing to raise a gun to the side of his head.
Hours later, it was revealed that the incident was under investigation by the NBA, and The Athletic’s Shams Charania then reported that Morant had been suspended by the Grizzlies for “at least two games” while the investigation into the incident continued.
He added that the Grizzlies said Morant “won’t be in the franchise at least Sunday with Clippers and Tuesday with Lakers.”
Just hours later, Morant issued a statement justifying his actions and stating that he would be taking time off the game to work on his well-being.
“I take full responsibility for my actions last night,” he said. “I’m sorry to my family, teammates, coaches, fans, partners, the city of Memphis and the entire Grizzlies organization for letting you down.
“I will take some time to get help and work on learning better ways to manage stress and my overall well-being.”
Sharpe had to keep a low profile after a clash with Grizzlies stars in LA in January. Morant is a big name in the NBA but has been involved in a number of different controversies
Topless women can be seen dancing in the background of the video while Morant laughs with his friends.
The tasteless clip is – unbelievably – the fourth recent gun-related controversy involving the young NBA star, who earns $12,119,000 a year.
Morant was sued in September for allegedly punching a Tennessee teenager in the face during a pickup game, but the NBA star claims he acted in self-defense.
New details from police interviews obtained by The Washington Post show that the 17-year-old told investigators at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office that the point guard hit him “12 to 13 times,” adding that Morant had a boyfriend additionally “four to four times” hit him five times.’
The teenager claimed that when Morant got up to leave after the fight, he went into his house and reappeared with a gun.
Morant reportedly had the gun visible in the waistband of his pants and had his hand on the gun.
The 17-year-old plaintiff claimed he was playing pickup basketball with Morant when the two got into an argument that quickly escalated. He admits tossing a basketball at Morant and “accidentally” hitting the 6ft 2 guard in the face.
Morant and his friend allegedly responded by hitting the 17-year-old “with a closed fist, knocking him to the ground” and leaving him with a “large knot” on the side of his head, according to a police report written by MPs who said they had observed the boy’s injuries.
Morant “kept poking him while he was on the ground” when another person came along to punch the teenager, who likened the hits to “an MMA fight”.
Ja Morant appeared to hold a gun aloft in a live Instagram video in the early hours of Saturday morning. Morant danced topless in a strip club
Morant reportedly admitted hitting the 17-year-old but told police he did so in self-defence. According to the former Murray State star, the plaintiff also “made verbal threats” and said he was going to “light up.” [Morant’s] house up.’
Morant said: “He and his family were terrified by the testimony.”
In a baffling incident just days after the report was released, Morant stirred up even more controversy – this time at an NBA game – when he hosted a gun celebration after watching a teammate shoot a three-pointer.
The unsavory moment came Wednesday night when the Memphis Grizzlies took on the Houston Rockets while Morant watched from the bench as Desmond Bane scored a three-point try in front of his teammates.
Morant was cheered by the shot and was celebrated by pretending to fire a gun at Bane as he ran up the ground in defense.
Morant was also involved in another incident at a Memphis mall last summer after the New York Post reported the security chief told police Morant had “threatened” him during an altercation in the parking lot.
Morant’s mother reportedly got into an argument with a shoe store clerk at the mall and called her son, who arrived shortly afterwards with a group of “up to nine people”.
According to the police report, Morant and his friends refused to leave the parking lot when confronted with the mall’s security director.
Police arrived and a “verbal confrontation” reportedly escalated before someone from Morant’s entourage allegedly punched the security chief in the head.
The alleged incident last summer happened at Morant’s mansion outside of Memphis (pictured).
“As the group left the premises … Ja Morant said, ‘Let me find out when he gets off,’ police wrote in the report.
Additionally, after the Grizzlies’ game with the Pacers on Jan. 29, there was an unsavory incident when acquaintances of Ja Morant “aggressively confronted” members of Indiana’s touring party and pointed a red laser at them.
The athlete said Morant was driving in an SUV with his friend Vomete Pack and another person when a red laser was pointed at the Pacers bus.
Two people who spoke anonymously to the publication said they believed the laser was attached to a gun, while a nearby Indiana security guard claimed “it’s 100 percent a gun.” However, the laser has not been confirmed as being attached to a weapon.
The incident prompted a league investigation and seems to have shaken those involved.
“We felt in great danger,” said a person present.