Former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal is dispelling the most recent rumors surrounding his love life, this one with Sabrina Carpenter and fake DMs sent to her Instagram.
Fake Messages
The Lakers legend asked Jim Jones on an episode of The Big Podcast if a headline he was going to show him was real.
Jones read, “Shaq exposed for shooting his shot at Sabrina Carpenter.” The headline was paired with alleged messages sent between the two.
O’Neal read the messages he supposedly sent to the singer. “Damn, baby I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day. Just jokes. I’m Shaqs. What’s your name baby? And Sabrina says, ‘I know who you are. You’re way too famous to be sending me messages like that.’ Shaq, ‘I can’t be honry and want some of that snow bunny kitty for myself. You’re being rude for no reason. You can’t handle Big Diesel any way.”
Shaq made it very clear to both viewers and guests, Jim Jones, and Bailey Jackson, that the messages were fake.
He added, “Yeah, that went viral. Look, you see that? First of all, ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that. I’m just saying.”
Jackson pointed out that the viral screenshots were photoshopped with O’Neal’s Instagram profile picture.
Jones laughed and said, “I was about to say— the first line was crazy if that’s how you’re busting through people’s DMs.”
Denying Other Rumors
These aren’t the only rumors Shaq has had to deal with concerning his love life.
Last October, he denied another internet rumor where fans were speculating he was in a relationship with 21-year-old OnlyFans model Sophie Rain.
He posted in the comment section of a TikTok user who claimed they were an item, “I don’t [date] that young but I will date your mom and give u a brother.”
Just two months later, in December, rumors flew again after Shaq posted a photo with a friend’s wife. Taken out of context, fans believed he was in a relationship.
O’Neal dispelled the rumors to People, stating, “My favorite thing is always saying, ‘image is reality.'”
He continued, “nothing is going to stop me from taking pictures” with friends or fans, but when “the false narrative comes out and you get another guy taking the picture and putting it on his page… It’s all clickbait.”
Shaq’s Love Life
Shaq has been open about his actual love life, including the marriages he’s had in the past.
He shared in 2023, “I had two perfect women and I messed it up. My first one was my baby mother, Arnetta, and then I met Shaunie. Shaunie was also a perfect woman, and I messed it up.”
He added, “Yeah, you know, we were young and always just doing dumb stuff. But, the good thing about our relationship is that they forgave me, and we have a good relationship now. But when you ask me about the perfect woman — I had two perfect women and I messed it up, just by, you know, being dumb.”
Lessons Learned
While Shaq may have messed up his two previous marriages, he has learned lessons about love and relationships.
“…First thing you have to be is honest, honest with yourself and honest with your partner,” he shared.
“… I tell my sons all the time, a man has three jobs when it comes to a woman. Protect, provide and love. Some men can only offer two, for whatever reason, but I’ma teach you how to offer all three. And that’s what I try to do — and even though I don’t have a relationship with the women that I let get away, I will always PPL: protect, provide, and love, whatever they need they get it from me.”