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Shaquille O'Neal debunks fabricated direct messages with Sabrina Carpenter on podcast

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal dismissed fake social media direct messages purportedly exchanged with singer Sabrina Carpenter during an episode of "The Big Podcast" featuring rapper Jim Jones.[1][2]

Jones read a fabricated headline: "Shaq exposed for shooting his shot at Sabrina Carpenter," followed by alleged messages including crude content attributed to O'Neal, such as offering to "keep your farts in a cologne bottle."[1][2]

O'Neal read portions of the messages aloud before stating he did not send them to Carpenter or anyone else.[1][2]

"First of all ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that, I’m just saying," O'Neal said, referring to himself by his nickname.[1][2]

O'Neal, a four-time NBA champion primarily with the Los Angeles Lakers and inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, shared relationship advice on the episode, stressing honesty and a man's roles to "protect, provide and love."[1][3][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, in Los Angeles.[5]

Sources

  1. Fox News Digital, "Basketball Hall of Fame Shaquille O’Neal called a technical foul on fake messages that he was dragged into on social media involving pop star Sabrina Carpenter", April 11, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/shaq-calls-technical-foul-fake-messages-sabrina-carpenter-big-podcast
  2. Sportskeeda, "Shaquille O'Neal shuts down fake DMs to Sabrina Carpenter on podcast: 'Diesel got way more game'", April 11, 2025, https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-shaquille-o-neal-shuts-fake-dms-sabrina-carpenter-podcast-diesel-got-way-game
  3. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, "Shaquille O'Neal", accessed April 2025, https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/shaquille-oneal/
  4. NBA.com, "Shaquille O'Neal Player Profile", N/A, https://www.nba.com/player/9348/shaquille-oneal
  5. The Recording Academy, "2025 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Winners & Nominations List", February 3, 2025, https://www.grammy.com/news/2025-grammys-winners-complete-list