Shaquille O'Neal denies fabricated social media messages attributed to him involving Sabrina Carpenter
Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal addressed fake direct messages on a March 2025 episode of his podcast "The Big Podcast," showing rapper Jim Jones a fabricated headline claiming O'Neal had messaged pop singer Sabrina Carpenter inappropriately.[1][2]
The headline read "Shaq exposed for shooting his shot at Sabrina Carpenter," followed by alleged exchanges, including one purportedly from O'Neal stating, "Damn, baby I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day."[1][2]
O'Neal read parts of the messages aloud before clarifying he sent none of them, stating, "First of all ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that."[1][2]
O'Neal, a four-time NBA champion who won three titles with the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002, was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2016.[3][4]
Carpenter won Best Pop Vocal Album 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]
During the episode, O'Neal discussed lessons from his past relationships, referencing his ex-wife Shaunie O'Neal and former partner Arnetta Gardenhire, and offered advice on relationships, emphasizing honesty, protection, provision and love.[1][2]
Jim Jones, a rapper and member of the hip-hop group The Diplomats, was the guest on the episode.[6]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "Shaq calls technical foul on fake messages that he was dragged into on social media involving pop star Sabrina Carpenter", March 10, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/shaq-calls-technical-foul-fake-dms-sabrina-carpenter
- Outkick, "Shaq Shows Jim Jones Hilarious Fake DMs Allegedly Sent To Sabrina Carpenter On His Podcast", March 9, 2025, https://www.outkick.com/culture/shaq-jim-jones-sabrina-carpenter-fake-dms-podcast
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Shaquille O'Neal", accessed March 2025, https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/shaquille-oneal/
- NBA.com, "Shaquille O'Neal", accessed March 2025, https://www.nba.com/player/121/shaquille-oneal
- Grammy.com, "2025 Grammy Awards Winners", February 2, 2025, https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-winners-full-list
- Billboard, "Jim Jones", accessed March 2025, https://www.billboard.com/artist/jim-jones/
