Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
Shaquille O’Neal is facing backlash after remarks he made on a recent podcast went viral.
The 52-year-old NBA legend appeared as a guest on the Thursday, October 24 episode of the Unapologetically Angel podcast, hosted by Chicago Sky player Angel Reese. During their conversation about lowering rims for WNBA games to increase the number of dunks, Shaq made a controversial comment.
“Bro, imagine you in those little a** shorts you had on at the Wild’n Out show, dunking. You know how many t-shirts you gonna sell, you trippin.” Reese, 22, seemingly uncomfortable, rolled her eyes and laughed as she said, “Oh my god.” O’Neal persisted, “What? What? Those same little a** shorts,” as the podcast host tried to interrupt, she said, “Ok, alright, alright, alright,” in an effort to stop him and change the subject.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Flipper’s
The retired NBA player’s comments sparked reactions from fans on social media, with fans on Instagram writing comments like, “Very uncomfortable, I hate when old dudes do stuff like this to young girls,” and “I feel like Angel thought about Shaq completely different after this episode 😂.” A third commented on Reese’s relationship with Shaq, and said, “She looks at him like an older mentor…someone she cares about and respects like family. It’s weird!! And that’s why she’s so uncomfortable….imagine ur dad…uncle…close family friend doing this…”
The “Bayou Barbie” has previously admitted that Shaq serves as a mentor and father figure to her. In an interview, Reese told USA Today, “We have fun, and if I need anything, he would help me… and he would do that even if I never played basketball again. He doesn’t care about me as a player, he cares about me as a person.”
O’Neal and Reese have not yet commented on any of the reactions to the podcast episode.