Shaquille O’Neal (54) Breaks Silence on Alleged DMs to Sabrina Carpenter
Shaquille O’Neal is not letting the internet tarnish his reputation as a smooth talker. The NBA icon recently addressed a series of viral screenshots that claimed to show a flirtatious direct message exchange between himself and pop star Sabrina Carpenter.
During the March 24 episode of his show, The Big Podcast with Shaq, the Hall of Famer didn’t just deny the messages—he read them aloud to highlight how unlike him they really were.
The alleged messages featured several crude and aggressive lines that quickly sparked a firestorm across social media. O’Neal began, reciting the leaked text with a look of pure disbelief on his face.
Shaquille O'Neal is now addressing claims that he sent Sabrina Carpenter "h*rny" DMs.
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 25, 2026
Details: https://t.co/BGItIemDXH
Credit: The Big Podcast with Shaq pic.twitter.com/RdjhZauaeZ
He followed up with the more graphic claims, including one that read, “My meat would have you in the hospital,” and another asking why he couldn’t want some “Snow Bunny kitty” for himself.
Diesel was quick to clear the air, insisting that anyone who actually knows him is aware that he has much better “game” than what was depicted in the crude leaks. To prove his point, he even mocked the messages using his signature deep, sultry voice to show how ridiculous they sounded coming from him.
“First of all, the Diesel has way more game than that,” O’Neal told his co-host Adam Lefkoe, laughing off the idea that he would ever send such unpolished texts. His guest for the episode, rapper Jim Jones, weighed in on the controversy by pointing out the dangers of modern technology.
Jones noted that with the rise of advanced artificial intelligence, it has become incredibly easy to fabricate realistic-looking conversations to trend online. Shaq agreed, confidently stating that while a computer might be able to forge his name, it can never replicate his specific brand of legendary charm.
Away from the digital drama, the 54-year-old legend remains one of the busiest figures in entertainment and business. As for Sabrina Carpenter, the 26-year-old singer has been ignoring the viral rumors while dominating the international festival circuit. She recently wrapped up a string of high-profile performances at Lollapalooza Brazil and the Estéreo Picnic Festival in Colombia.
Fans are eagerly awaiting her next major move as she prepares to headline Coachella in April, followed by her highly anticipated starring role in a live-action Alice in Wonderland musical for Universal Pictures.
The upcoming film, directed by Hustlers filmmaker Lorene Scafaria, marks Carpenter’s first time serving as both a lead actress and a producer for a major studio project. While the “Espresso” singer hasn’t directly commented on the fake DMs, her packed schedule and skyrocketing career suggest she has little time for internet hoaxes.
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