Sacked BBC Presenter Jermaine Jenas Apologizes for Messages to Female Colleagues

Jermaine Jenas has apologized to his former female colleagues following his dismissal for sending inappropriate messages. The 41-year-old former Premier League player was let go by the BBC, where he had roles as a presenter on “Match of the Day” and “The One Show,” after a female colleague raised concerns about his behavior.

Initially, Jenas apologized for his actions, expressing feelings of shame and deep regret. He has now addressed the women directly, stating that he “always thought it was consensual and a two-way thing.” While Jenas denies any criminality, he conveyed his apology through “The Sun on Sunday” due to HR advising him against direct contact because of legal processes.

“When it was all unfolding and I knew I was losing my job, I asked HR if I could contact the two women directly and apologize to both of them,” Jenas revealed. “But because of the legal process, I wasn’t allowed. I didn’t get the opportunity to say sorry to them at that particular point when I really wanted to apologize.”

He further emphasized, “I really want to apologize from the bottom of my heart for what I’ve put them through.”

Addressing the women, he said, “I’m genuinely sorry for what I’ve done to you. I always thought it was consensual and a two-way thing.” Jenas, who has been married to model Ellie Penfold for 13 years and has four children, admitted he has a “self-destructive streak” in his relationships and is currently receiving therapy.

“I’m not proud of what I wrote and what I said. And I do consider it cheating, yes, although nothing physical ever happened,” he 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. And I fell below those standards. I must take the responsibility.”

A BBC spokesperson confirmed Jenas’s departure, stating, “We can confirm that he is no longer part of our presenting line-up.”

Jenas has criticized his former employer’s handling of his dismissal and intends to discuss the situation with his lawyers. Official figures published last year indicated he earned between £190,000 to £194,999 for his work on the FA Cup, “Match Of The Day,” and the World Cup at the BBC. His salary for “The One Show” remains undisclosed as it is produced by BBC Studios.

His sacking adds to the BBC’s ongoing challenges, especially as it deals with the scandal surrounding former newsreader Huw Edwards and allegations of abuse on the set of “Strictly Come Dancing.”

In a recent interview with “The Sun,” Jenas shared that his wife Ellie is “raging” after learning about his dismissal. He also mentioned having “difficult conversations” with his two eldest children, aged 11 and 16, who are old enough to be aware of social media buzz surrounding the issue. “That’s been hard,” he admitted.

“I’ve let everyone down,” Jenas confessed. “Even my dog looked at me disappointed.”

Acknowledging his mistakes, he said, “I have been behaving in a certain way that’s just not been acceptable within our marriage. Ellie is completely innocent within all this. All she’s doing is at home, working her heart out, looking after my children.”

He concluded with a heartfelt, “The overriding factor is just how sorry I am to everybody.”

Source: The Sun on Sunday, The Sun