Sorry, social media, that’s not Shaquille O’Neal.
The 7-foot-1 NBA icon dismissed wild speculation about his personal life after influencer Maria Ozuna Teachey posted a photo on Instagram that featured a tall, unidentified suitor draping rather large hands over her shoulders.
Internet detectives being internet detectives then theorized whether O’Neal, 52, was the individual in the photograph, leading the four-time NBA champion to shut down the buzz himself.
A photo shared by influencer Maria Ozuna Teachey went viral this week, leading social media detectives to speculate if Shaquille O’Neal was the tall individual featured in the shot. Maria Ozuna Teachey/Facebook
The NBA icon denied he was the individual in question. GC Images
“Nope not the kid,” O’Neal commented on a post on WorldStar’s Instagram page, according to TMZ.
O’Neal, who was married to Shaunie O’Neal from 2002-11, continued the chatter Tuesday by posting an Instagram reel that showcased him embracing others in a similar pose as the original influencer pic.
Shaquille O’Neal continued the chatter by posting a video of himself wrapping his arms around another woman. Shaquille O’Neal/Instagram
Maria Ozuna Teachey has more than 200,000 Instagram followers. Maria Ozuna Teachey/Facebook
“Is this my girlfriend too, trust me I’ll let yall know who my woman is,and by the way my woman name is Shaqirah,” he wrote.
Shaq captioned a follow-up post, “I will let yall know when I’m in love.”
It seems the drama isn’t over, however, as The Shade Room posted a screenshot of a curious message Tuesday that was allegedly shared by Teachy.
Shaquille O’Neal’s interactions with influencers have gone viral in the past. AP
“Come on Kid . A time was Had,” the caption read. “Why he lie to yall man.”
This isn’t the first time O’Neal and a social media influencer have shared headlines.
The NBA Hall of Famer’s exchange with internet sensation Ariana Josephine, a.k.a. “Home Depot Girl,” stirred buzz last June, around the same time a Beverly Hills dinner outing with Brittany Renner went viral.
