Shaquille O’Neal is standing firm and denying his involvement in a viral photo that had social media buzzing. The NBA Hall of Famer found himself at the center of rumors when fans speculated whether he was the mystery man in a photo posted by influencer Maria Ozuna Teachey. The image featured a tall man with large hands embracing Teachey, leaving fans to play detective and suggest the man might be O’Neal.
But Shaq quickly shut down the speculation, and he’s not letting up. In his latest response, O’Neal posted a playful video on Instagram featuring himself and Peter Gunz, where he lip-synced to Shaggy’s hit song “It Wasn’t Me.” Across the clip, the three words “It wasn’t me” were prominently displayed, leaving little doubt about his stance. He captioned the post humorously, “I might not know the words, but I do know it wasn’t me @petergunz174.”
The saga began when Teachey posted a photo showing only the body and hands of a tall suitor. Internet sleuths quickly suggested that the 7-foot-1 former NBA star was the man in the photo. O’Neal had previously denied his involvement, replying to a post on WorldStar’s Instagram with the comment, “Nope not the kid,” according to TMZ.
Shaq didn’t stop there. On Tuesday, he posted a video of himself posing with other women and playfully asked, “Is this my girlfriend too? Trust me, I’ll let y’all know who my woman is, and by the way, her name is Shaqirah.” In a separate post, he made it clear: “I will let y’all know when I’m in love.”
Despite O’Neal’s repeated denials, Teachey appeared to add fuel to the fire by sharing what she claimed to be footage of her visiting O’Neal’s room at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, as reported by The Shade Room. In a cryptic caption, Teachey allegedly wrote, “Come on Kid. A time was Had. Why he lie to y’all man.”
While it’s unclear if this saga will take another turn, Shaq’s personal life has often stirred attention online. Just last year, his dinner with influencer Brittany Renner in Beverly Hills went viral, with TMZ noting that the two were merely friends catching up.
As the drama unfolds, one thing is certain—Shaquille O’Neal isn’t fazed and continues to keep fans entertained with his humorous denials.