Shaquille O’Neal recently sparked a wave of online reactions with a comment he made about WNBA star Angel Reese on her podcast, Unapologetically Angel. His remarks quickly caught attention, prompting discussions on social media about the tone of the exchange.
So, what did Shaquille O’Neal say about Angel Reese? Here is everything to know about O’Neal’s ‘shorts’ comment.
Shaquille O’Neal faces backlash over his comment
Shaquille O’Neal is facing backlash following comments he made during an appearance on Angel Reese’s podcast, Unapologetically Angel. The NBA legend, who has been a mentor and supporter of Reese, joined her on the October 24 episode to discuss ways to improve the visibility and compensation of WNBA players. During their conversation, O’Neal suggested that lowering rims could encourage more dunking, potentially increasing fan engagement and revenue.
However, controversy erupted when O’Neal commented on Reese’s outfit from a recent appearance on Wild ‘N Out. Referring to the shorts she wore at the event, O’Neal remarked, “Bro, imagine you in those little ass shorts you had on at the ‘Wild ‘n Out’ show, dunking. You know how many T-shirts you gonna sell, you trippin’. What? What? Those same little ass shorts.” Reese, who had shared the look on Instagram earlier in October, responded with an uncomfortable, “Alright, alright, alright.”
Social media reactions were swift, with many fans criticizing O’Neal’s comments as inappropriate. One user commented on X, “This is creepy af omggg, Shaq exit stage left!!” Meanwhile, another user wrote on Instagram, “That was a very uncomfortable comment especially since she looks up to him. Wow.”
Despite Reese’s public praise for O’Neal as a supportive figure in her life, this latest episode has led to broader discussions online about boundaries within professional relationships. While Reese had previously credited O’Neal for helping her navigate her rise to fame, the incident has sparked debate over what’s appropriate within a mentorship dynamic.