Shaquille O'Neal has been forced to deny an online rumour which claimed that he was messaging singer Sabrina Carpenter on Instagram.
O'Neal, 54, interrupted coverage of his podcast, 'The Big Podcast with Shaq', to read out the fake messages to guests Jim Jones and Bailey Jackson.
Before reading out the fake messages to Carpenter, who is 28 years his junior, he said: "I want you to tell me if it's me, or if it's not me."
After reading out the message, which was sexual in nature, he then read out the reply from the fake Carpenter, who said: "I know who you are. You're way too famous to be sending me messages like that."
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Shaq continued with the rest of the message, which became even more graphic, before asking: "Now, is that me, or is that cap?"
Jackson replied: "I definitely do not believe that was you. It even has your picture Photoshopped and everything.
"Social media's a dangerous game."
Jones said: "This is supposedly you DM'ing her? That's wild, because the computer can do anything... the first line was crazy if that's how you're doing DM's."
"First of all, ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that. I'm just saying," O'Neal stated, before bursting out into laughter.
In perhaps the least surprising news you'll hear all week, Carpenter hasn't addressed the fake messages.
Back in October, O'Neal had to clarify reports that he was dating OnlyFans star Sophie Rain, who is 21, after they were photographed together at her birthday party.
Noah Glenn Carter, who has over nine million viewers on TikTok, was the source of the claim, remarking in a post that it was 'odd' that O'Neal was at the party.
Shaq took to the comments section to confirm that he was in fact DJ'ing at the beach club which Rain was visiting.
Carter privately apologised to the NBA legend, with O'Neal publicly sharing the apology alongside the message: "Apology Accepted.
"I'm not a fan of dudes that say anything for clicks get your facts right dude. Put out some real content or get a job."
Topics: Shaquille ONeal, NBA, Basketball
Ryan Smart