Sophia Michaels
In September 2024, Shaquille O’Neal became the center of attention when a photo circulated online, showcasing him next to a much younger woman in a seemingly intimate pose. Although O’Neal’s face was cropped out, many speculated that it was him, given his history with relationships. The original post was made by Maria, an influencer, who shared a provocative mirror selfie that featured her in a tight bodysuit. Her caption playfully asked followers to guess who was in the background, with a large man whose presence raised eyebrows.
Despite the post being deleted, screenshots spread quickly on X (formerly Twitter), where users had a field day teasing O’Neal about dating much shorter women. Amidst the teasing, it was clear that some users found the situation unsettling. On September 17, after gaining attention online, O’Neal addressed the rumors. He commented on an Instagram post from WorldStar Hip Hop, firmly stating that the man in the picture was not him, while also sharing amusing videos that hinted at the confusion regarding his relationship status.
Shaq jokes about relationship rumors
Seemingly enjoying the uproar, O’Neal took to Instagram on September 17 to humorously address the viral image. He shared a montage of himself with various women mimicking the pose from the controversial photo and joked about his relationship status, mentioning he would clearly reveal who he was dating, introducing ‘Shaqirah’ as his woman. He later posted a video lip-syncing to a famous line from Denzel Washington, reiterating his intention to clarify when he’s truly in love. Even while denying claims about the woman, O’Neal left some ambiguity regarding his identity in the viral image, leading to playful reactions from his followers.
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