Jermaine Jenas releases statement saying he's 'ashamed' after BBC sacking
Jermaine Jenas has said he is 'ashamed' after being sacked by the BBC.
Speaking on Friday, the former pundit said he is 'deeply sorry' after admitting to sending 'inappropriate' messages to two female colleagues.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that the 41-year-old TV star, who swapped the pitch for punditry following the end of his 13-year career, had been removed from the air and will no longer be the face of either Match of the Day or The One Show.
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A BBC spokesperson told LADbible: “We can confirm that he is no longer part of our presenting line up.”
Now, Jenas has spoken out about what happened, admitting he is 'ashamed' over the revelations that he had been messaging two women.
"I did nothing illegal — these were inappropriate messages between two consenting adults," he told The Sun.
“I am ashamed, and I am deeply sorry. I have let myself down, my family, friends and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology — especially the women with whom I was messaging. I am so, so sorry.
“I am sorry for what I have put them through.
“I think it would be fair to say I have a problem. I know I self-sabotage and have a self-destructive streak when it comes to my relationship especially, and I know I need help. And I am getting help."
Jenas added: “I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself a lot of questions at the moment. I know there’s a lot of work that needs to be done, and it will be hard.
“Before any of this became public, I saw my private doctor and after a long discussion, booked in for therapy to try and address these issues, where they stem from, and why I have been doing this and hurting the people I love.
“I’m not proud of what I wrote and what I said. And I do consider it cheating, yes, although nothing physical ever happened.
“This is all on me and I fully accept there is a level of responsibility that needs to be upheld when you’re a member of the BBC.
“And I fell below those standards. I must take the responsibility.
“I was given an incredible opportunity and I know it’s on me that right now I feel I have lost everything. I feel like people are judging me and that I am the number one target right now in the country.”
Jenas also added that no images or videos were exchanged in the messages, and insisted that the texting was consensual.
“I feel people don’t know the truth and are forming opinions about me that aren’t accurate," he added.
“I wasn’t going through some kind of BBC vault trying to get women’s numbers. I’m obviously going to say I’m not a sex pest.
“These were consenting adults I was texting.”
It's reported that Jenas and his partner Ellie - of whom he shares three children with - are going to try and work through the revelations.
During his playing career, Jenas spent eight years at Tottenham and made 155 appearances for the club.
The BBC declined to comment further beyond its original statement.
Lucy Devine