Jermaine Jenas has sent a defiant message to his detractors in a strange breakfast-based Instagram post, following his high-profile firing from the BBC in 2024. The former footballer, 43, was sacked by the BBC amid allegations he sent unsolicited text messages to a female staff member at The One Show, which he co-presented from 2020 to 2024. It was subsequently reported that multiple female colleagues had claimed he sent them explicit messages. One allegation from a make-up artist claimed he harassed her for sex while they worked together at BT Sport in 2017.
Jenas admits to 'sexting' and marriage breakdown
Jenas at the time admitted to sending messages to two 'consenting' BBC co-workers, characterising the interactions as 'sexting', which came during a rough patch in his marriage. In the wake of his immediate dismissal from the Beeb, Jenas and his wife Ellie Penfold, with whom he shares four children, split after 16 years together.
The former England and Tottenham star has now hit back at critics in a clip of him dancing topless, while spinning a stack of pancakes. Text overlaid on the video read: 'I no longer care how the story gets told… F*** you and them… Respectfully.' In the caption to the post, he wrote: 'My post-workout white chocolate pancakes on a Saturday morning are legendary. Have a great weekend people.'
Puzzled reactions from fellow sports stars
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the post prompted a puzzled reaction in the comments section, with Rio Ferdinand replying: 'Okaaaaay… these tunes don't fit the caption ffs.' Fellow former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips commented laughing emojis, while rugby player Jonathan Joseph replied agreeing with Ferdinand. The tongue-in-cheek pile-on prompted Jenas to clap back, writing: 'Wow they're all here today! It's mad how some abs can really upset a few.'
Earlier this month, Jenas was pictured on holiday with new girlfriend, Anne Leplaideur, after going public as a couple last year.
Jenas vows to be a 'better person' after losing everything
While Jenas no longer works for the BBC, he eventually made a comeback to talkSPORT, vowing last year to be a 'better person'. Speaking to comedian Katherine Ryan and pro boxer Derek Chisora on the Let Me Tell You Something podcast, Jenas previously admitted that the scandal resulted in him 'losing everything'. Recalling the fallout at the time, he said: 'I dealt with it wrong and got heavily punished for it by losing pretty much everything that I had at that time.'
