NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has addressed a viral rumor suggesting he sent direct messages to Sabrina Carpenter.
On the Friday, March 20, episode of his “Big Podcast” show, O’Neal, 54, dismissed the claim by saying, “First of all, ladies, the diesel got way more game than that,” while reading the alleged flirtatious messages aloud.
Earlier this month, social media images emerged showing a series of explicit messages purportedly sent to Carpenter, 26, from an Instagram account seemingly linked to O’Neal.
The retired basketball player quoted one of the alleged messages, saying, “Damn, baby, I would keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day.” He added, “Just jokes, I’m Shaq. What’s your name, baby?” to which Sabrina reportedly responded, “I know who you are. You’re way too famous to be sending messages like that.”
O’Neal allegedly responded, “I can’t be horny and want some of that snow bunny kitty for no reason. You can’t handle big diesel anyway.”
He later admitted that a photoshopped image of himself had been added to the seemingly AI-generated message.
During the podcast, O’Neal’s guest Jim Jones remarked that social media can be a “dangerous place.”
Jones, 49, commented, “It’s so crazy what people are spending their energy and time on. I would think they would have better things to do.”
O’Neal noted that young people seem to be focused on “the algorithm and going viral.”
Jones added, “Social media is a great way for you to gain business and for you to market and promote your business. That’s what I use it for. Everyone has their own elaborate ways and schemes that they use social media platforms. I use it for music, I use it for my content, and I use it for pretty much everything I have going on.”
He also pointed out that “social media is there for entertainment.”
Jones said, “Whatever’s going on today, it’s not going to last past three days. If you feel that social media is working against you, it’s never working against you. You’ve got to figure out how to make it work for you even when it is working against you ‘cause now you have millions of eyes on you.”
Neither O’Neal nor Carpenter have further commented on the fake text exchange.
O’Neal was married to Shaunie Wilson from 2002 to 2011, and they share five children. He also has a daughter named Taahirah from a previous relationship with Arnetta Yardbourgh.
Since his divorce, O’Neal has been linked romantically to several well-known individuals. After being seen with OnlyFans creator Sophie Rain on her 21st birthday, he denied any romantic involvement.
In an Instagram comment in October 2025, O’Neal said, “I don’t [date] that young but I will date your mom and give u a brother,” after a social media user questioned the age difference.
Rain also dismissed the speculation in a statement to Us Weekly.
“He reached out to me after and was like damn, we are famous, haha, I don’t know why people think we are dating,” Rain told Us. “People are running with a wild story, but Shaq was nothing but respectful. It was my 21st birthday and he made it unforgettable. I laughed when I saw the rumors. Shaq’s response says it all. He was never trying to be anything more than supportive and fun.”
Regarding Carpenter, she has been single since December 2024, when she and actor Barry Keoghan ended their nearly year-long relationship.
