Sometimes you gotta change the play at the line of scrimmage when you are in the high-stakes game of Hollywood. That’s exactly what former NFL quarterback Cam Newton did when he decided to bench his interview with Issa Rae, creator of HBO’s hit show “Insecure.”

Shannon Sharpe joined Cam Newton’s show “Funky Friday,” which was released exclusively to EssentiallySports before the public release, Cam reveals a bombshell that would make even the toughest linebacker flinch. The interview is releasing this Friday.

“The trajectory of that interview of Club Shay Shay made Issa and her team not want to put out our show,” Newton explained, referencing Amanda Seales’ appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast. “So I have not put out, out of respect.” It’s like Newton saw the defense shifting and called an audible at the last second.

This Hollywood huddle comes after Seales spilled the tea about her falling out with Rae on “Club Shay Shay” back in April. She claimed Rae’s publicist, Vanessa Anderson, blocked her from entering a Black Hollywood Emmy’s after-party in 2019, causing a rift between the two actresses. “Nobody’s saying nothing to me. Everybody knows because, at this time, it’s just the women shooting,” Seales said, describing the aftermath on the “Insecure” set. “Everybody knows what’s going on. They don’t say nothing to me. And that’s just f**king mean. It’s mean.”

Newton, showing the kind of situational awareness that made him a MVP on the field, recognized the potential for unnecessary roughness if he aired his Issa Rae interview. “We don’t want to look at you have a go back and correct because that that interview by when we did Issa’s interview Amanda’s interview I’m not sure when you guys posted it or shot it it wasn’t posted yet,” he explained.

Shannon Sharpe’s diplomacy navigating the tough plays in Hollywood

While Newton was making moves off the field, Shannon Sharpe found himself in his own fourth and long situation. His interview with Seales sparked controversy, particularly his response to her sharing a childhood experience with racism.

Sharpe explained his diplomatic approach to Newton: “You can’t automatically assume just because you’re the same race everybody responds to that N word the exact same, so you have to be careful especially in a Prof a professional setting.” It’s like Sharpe was running a precise route, carefully choosing his words to avoid unnecessary contact.

This wasn’t Sharpe’s first rodeo with controversy. His interview with comedian Katt Williams earlier this year caused a stir in the entertainment world. “I didn’t expect the vitriol all to come especially from some of the people and I’m not going to say we were friend but I’m saying we were cordial we were friendly towards each other,” Sharpe reflected on the “Funky Friday,” podcast.

The fallout from these interviews has been like a Hail Mary pass – unpredictable and far-reaching. Some potential guests have backed out, as Sharpe noted: “They were so excited thanks for reaching out we can’t wait to sit down and a day later they can’t do it and then no call they won’t follow so forth and so on.”

In the end, this Hollywood playbook proves that sometimes, the best offense is a good defense. Newton’s decision to respect Rae’s wishes and Sharpe’s careful navigation of sensitive topics show that in the entertainment industry, like in football, it’s all about reading the field and making the right calls. As the dust settles on this play, fans are left wondering: Will there be a rematch, or is this game over? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure – in Hollywood, just like in the NFL, you always have to be ready for the next play.