Society's Child

Shaq rejects celebrity status: 'These people are out of their freaking mind'

Ryan Gaydos
Fox News
Tue, 28 Sep 2021 18:51 UTC

Shaquille O'Neal is done.

The four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest basketball players of all time renounced his celebrity status in an interview with the New York Post. The 7-foot-1 former Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who is also one of the most recognizable athletes, is done with the glitz and glamour.

"These celebrities are going freaking crazy and I don't want to be one. I denounce my celebrity-ness today. I'm done with it," he told the New York Post on Friday.

"I don't want to be in that category. Celebrities are crazy, they really are. Don't call me that anymore. These people are out of their freaking mind with how they treat people, what they do, what they say. That's never been me. I never want to be looked at like that."

O'Neal added he didn't want to be stereotyped as someone who is "out of their mind" and would rather be known for his kindness away from the basketball court and television cameras.

One of the 49-year-old's latest ventures is with Papa John's. With every purchase of his Shaq-a-Roni pizza, Papa John's will donate $1 from every purchase to support COVID-19 relief, the fight against racial injustice, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the United Negro College Fund and community involvement.

He also partnered with Kellogg's Mission Tiger to help purchase sports equipment in various cities across the U.S.

O'Neal will still be behind the desk for his NBA shows on TNT. The NBA season is right around the corner.

Comment: The original interview further reveals why Shaq doesn't want to be associate with celebrities:

"I came from nothing," he said. "But, just because I made it doesn't mean I'm bigger than you, smarter than you — just because I have more money doesn't mean I'm better than you. I've never been that way and I never will be that way. So I don't want to be in that category of people.

"When they talk about Shaq, what do you say? 'He's a nice guy.' Because what else can you be? You're either nice or you're the A-word, and I definitely won't be looked at as the A-word," he said.

"I want people to say, 'Bro, he's nice. He didn't have an entourage. His people didn't take my phone because I took a picture and threw it.'"

Shaq may have some strange and wrong opinions. But society would do well to take after him in valuing the virtues of kindness, generosity, and humility more than status, money, and one's image.

Reader Comments

Rowan Cocoan · 2021-09-30T20:05:49Z

I used to see him in Orlando all the time. He was always real as best I could tell. He and Penny Hardaway would tool around in a Mercedes 500 SL with the top down - probably because they couldn't fit in with the top up.

R.C.

Yupo · 2021-09-30T22:16:09Z

Rowan Cocoan Bespoke shoes and clothes are an easy fix, especially for the outsized, wealthy athlete. A bespoke car? Not so easy, but he could easily afford one (or more). A good ergonomic fit behind the wheel is near priceless. I've found it but 2 times; in a 2019 Avalon (test drive) and in my '89 Saab 900 convertible. Current ride (bare bones 2021 Prius) is a decent fit, but not quite magical. My size and proportions are theoretically textbook typical. IMO, auto manufacturers don't pay near enough attention to this issue.

Returning to the subject of the story... It is nice to read about someone that managed to stay real through the process of gaining fame, wealth and glamour. I wish him the best.

Rowan Cocoan · 2021-09-30T22:36:18Z

Yupo He also had an oversized black Suburban and/or Hummer with a raised roof.

Me, I'm only 5'7" and never had claustrophobia so I fit where comfy. My last two cars have been stickshift Matrixes. (They're super cheap because no one wants nor knows how to drive them. Meanwhile, I've ALWAYS loved driving sticks. First car was a 64 Dart with three on the tree. Way better useage of the car, such as coasting down hills, better feel of the road in turns, et al. (Downshifting has its purposes but they're rare.) (Of course, automatic / tiptronic type transmissions are a lot better than they used to be but gimme a clutch!)

RC

Yupo · 2021-10-01T01:39:35Z

Rowan Cocoan I did not know about the Matrix, thanks. We (in the healing arts) spell it matrices . I like a clutch too. First car was a Pinto which was wonderful in the mountains.

Rowan Cocoan · 2021-10-01T03:32:50Z

Yupo I got rear ended hard! in an explosive model Pinto hatchback in SoCal summertime late 70's. It had just had the recall fix so it did NOT explode I'm happy to say. I was 20 and shook it off but if it happened to me after age 50, it would have fucked me up good - I'm just talking about the impact damage. A true STAB (see the AB) story. Crazy.

RC

Chester Goode Your story lost me. Explication? RC

Yupo ·

Rowan Cocoan Ouch!

· 2021-10-01T03:55:27Z

Chester Goode · 2021-10-01T13:22:52Z

Rowan Cocoan In the words of Foghorn Leghorn: "It's a joke, son!"

Rowan Cocoan · 2021-10-01T13:25:11Z

Chester Goode I get it now.

As re FL, you forgot 'I say, I say, I say boy!"

RC

Chester Goode · 2021-09-30T22:20:13Z

I was at a hotel in Orlando where they were having a sports convention. I was in the rest room at the urinal when the door slapped open and a man rushed in and stood next to me. I looked at him. It was Shaq! He said: "Wow, I just made it!" I said: "Shaq, could you make me one too--but make mine white, OK?"

Why would they exhume? And why not embalm? Highly suspect. I guess they really want a black female saint at this point.

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Society's Child

Shaq rejects celebrity status: 'These people are out of their freaking mind'

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