I Have Let My Family Down” – Former England Footballer Jermaine Jenas Admits to Sending Inappropriate Messages to Women After BBC Dismissal
Former England footballer Jermaine Jenas has admitted to sending “inappropriate messages” to women, which led to his dismissal from the BBC. Jenas, who previously worked as a pundit on Match Of The Day and co-hosted The One Show, was let go following allegations about his behavior.
In an interview with The Sun on Friday, August 23, Jenas confessed that while “nothing physical ever happened,” he did engage in “cheating” on his wife through the messages. He acknowledged, “I’m not proud of what I wrote and what I said. 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.”
Jenas emphasized that “I did nothing illegal” and claimed the exchanges were between “two consenting adults,” adding that one of the women had expressed interest.
Apologizing publicly, the 41-year-old father-of-four stated, “I have let myself, my family, friends, and colleagues down, and I owe everyone an apology—especially the women I was messaging. I am deeply sorry.”
He admitted to having a problem, recognizing a pattern of self-sabotage in his relationships, and revealed that he is now seeking help. “I have made a lot of mistakes, and I am asking myself many questions. I know there’s a lot of work to be done, and it will be hard,” he said.
Jenas shared that he was dismissed by the BBC on Monday, five days after the HR investigation into his behavior began. He also revealed that he had lied to his wife, Ellie, in an attempt to “find a way out of this mess.”
The former Newcastle and Tottenham player expressed dissatisfaction with how the BBC handled his dismissal, stating that he was fired over a video call while on a family holiday. “It’s embarrassing, and obviously there’s four people there on a Zoom call, basically just listening to all of this and reading out my messages,” he said. However, he accepted responsibility, admitting, “I have only myself to blame. I’m the married one, I’m at fault.”
Jenas also mentioned that he had seen a doctor and started therapy before the allegations surfaced, aiming to address his issues. He clarified that he did not send any sexual images or videos, adding, “I feel people don’t know the truth and are forming opinions about me that aren’t accurate.”