As host of the ‘Club Shay Shay‘ podcast, legendary football champion Shannon Sharpe is no stranger to hearing some of his guests spit hot takes that set the net ablaze with debate.
When it comes to his wildly popular ‘Nightcap’ podcast, however, it’s usually Sharpe or his co-host – fellow former pro football star/wide receiver Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson – on the receiving end of some serious tongue lashings for their polarizing views on Pop culture, politics, and more.
And while they’re known to ignite quite the commentary on social media, few of their conversations have had tongues wagging quite like Shannon’s assertion that Taylor Swift is the “closest thing” to King of Pop Michael Jackson.
See what he said that still has people talking.
After acknowledging the reported revenue Swift’s mere presence at Kansas City Chiefs’ games (in support of her footballer boyfriend Travis Kelce) has brought the NFL, Sharpe asserted there is no other modern-day celebrity who could arouse such a response.
When Ochocinco argued Beyonce could, Shannon staunchly disagreed.
“Not like this,” Sharpe said. “I love Beyoncé!. Beyoncé ain’t moving the needle like this chick, Ocho! No!”
Doubling down on his stance, the 55-year-old even went as far as to compare Swift to the King of Pop.
“[Taylor’s] the closest thing to moving the needle like Michael Jackson that we’ve seen,” he relayed.
That’s not all he said. He even argued that if given a choice the NFL would choose a Taylor Super Bowl Halftime Show over having Beyonce, Rihanna, and JAY-Z combined.
Needless to say, his take got keyboards clacking and tongues wagging.
Hear his full statement in the clip above.