Shaquille O'Neal, a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee (class of 2016) and four-time NBA champion primarily with the Los Angeles Lakers, addressed alleged direct messages with pop singer Sabrina Carpenter during an episode of rapper Jim Jones' "The Big Podcast."[1][2][3]
O'Neal showed Jones a fabricated headline: "Shaq exposed for shooting his shot at Sabrina Carpenter," accompanied by purported messages. He read one aloud: "Damn, baby I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day."[1][4]
The messages continued with O'Neal allegedly writing, "Just jokes. I’m Shaqs. What’s your name baby?" and Carpenter responding, "I know who you are. You’re way too famous to be sending me messages like that." Further lines included, "I can’t be horny and want some of that snow bunny kitty for myself."[1][4]
O'Neal denied sending the messages, stating, "First of all ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that, I’m just saying."[1][4]
Carpenter won Best Pop Vocal Album for Short n' Sweet and Best Pop Solo Performance for "Espresso" at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.[5]
On the podcast, O'Neal discussed his past relationships, referencing Arnetta Gardenhire, mother of his first children, and ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal, whom he married in 2002 and divorced in 2011. He said, "I had two perfect women and I messed it up," attributing it to being young and "doing dumb stuff."[1][6]
O'Neal shared relationship advice: "A man has three jobs when it comes to a woman. Protect, provide and love," adding that he continues to "protect, provide, and love" the women from his past.[1][4]
Sources
- Fox News, "Shaq calls technical foul on fake DMs to Sabrina Carpenter: 'The Diesel got way more game than that'", February 6, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/shaq-calls-technical-foul-fake-dms-sabrina-carpenter
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Shaquille O'Neal", accessed February 2025, https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/shaquille-oneal/
- Basketball-Reference.com, "Shaquille O'Neal Stats", accessed February 2025, https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/onealsh01.html
- The Big Podcast (YouTube), "Shaq on Sabrina Carpenter Fake Text Messages 😂😂😂", February 5, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q0zJ6zZq4M
- Recording Academy (GRAMMY.com), "2025 GRAMMY Awards Winners List", February 2, 2025, https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammy-winners-complete-list
- People, "Everything Shaquille O'Neal Has Said About His Divorce from Ex-Wife Shaunie", June 3, 2024, https://people.com/shaquille-oneal-shaunie-divorce-quotes-timeline-8669297