Jermaine Jenas (foto: Uradni FB/TW/IG profil igralca)
Jermaine Jenas, former BBC presenter and Match of the Day analyst, has found himself at the center of controversy after a woman leaked WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by him during the Qatar World Cup 2022.
Jenas, who was sacked from the BBC for inappropriate behavior towards two women, now faces a third accusation from a woman who claims he sent her unsolicited explicit messages and photos.
The 41-year-old, married with children, reportedly met the woman while she was working as a party organizer in Doha, Qatar. After their initial encounter, Jenas allegedly continued to contact the woman, inviting her to various events, including a Calvin Harris concert. When she declined, the woman claims she later received an unsolicited photo of Jenas’ private parts.
In response to the allegations, Jenas released a statement insisting that his actions were “between two consenting adults” and that everything was legal. However, the woman involved has a different perspective, sharing the discomfort she felt throughout their interactions.
According to reports from the Daily Mail, Jenas sent flirtatious messages to the woman, including one that read: "I keep thinking these are pics of u when they arrive. When it arrives I'm like.. oh nice finally I get to see this body." In another message, when the woman mentioned going to the desert with a friend, Jenas replied: "I do wanna see u in a bikini so feel free to put her off for a day… u can't blame me."
Jenas is also alleged to have sent a message expressing a desire to “Netflix and chill” with the woman, followed by a photo of his private parts. The woman claims this incident left her feeling "shocked" and "violated," particularly given the cultural and legal context in Qatar, where sex outside marriage is illegal.
She explained: "The whole time I'd replied to his messages because I felt I had to, it was my job to bring in clients, but I always kept my distance. What he wanted could have got us locked up for seven years. But he kept insisting. I thought, you are shameless."
The woman stopped responding to Jenas after he sent the explicit photo, but she alleges that he continued messaging her, asking: "Didn't you like it?" When she didn’t reply, Jenas eventually blocked her.
A source close to Jenas denied the claims, telling The Sun that the texts were not unsolicited, stating: "They were between two consenting adults. She handed Jermaine her number and was trying to arrange to meet him." The source also mentioned that the woman was allegedly trying to involve Jenas and his VIP contacts in her events.
Jenas has since issued an apology for his behavior and confirmed that he is no longer part of the BBC presenting line-up. He is also reportedly working on rebuilding his marriage while the legal process involving him and the women’s representatives continues.