Shaquille O'Neal has released further evidence that he wasn't in a viral image that sparked rumors he was dating an influencer.
For those that missed it, O’Neal has responded to a viral image that sparked widespread speculation online.
The photo, which features a tall man embracing social media influencer Maria Ozuna Teachey, led many fans to believe that the individual could be the 7-foot-1 former NBA star.
The image shows Teachey with a towering figure placing large hands over her shoulders, and resting on her chest.
As the photo gained traction online, many social media users began theorizing that the man in question was O’Neal, leading to a flurry of speculation.
In response to the rumors, the four-time NBA champion, now 52, took to social media to personally shut down the claims.
Commenting on a post shared by WorldStar’s Instagram account, O'Neal said: "Nope, not the kid."
He humorously addressed the situation further on his own Instagram, posting a reel where he posed with others in a similar manner to the viral photo.
In the caption, he poked fun at the rumors, writing: "Is this my girlfriend too? Trust me, I’ll let y'all know who my woman is, and by the way, my woman’s name is Shaqirah."
He followed up with another post, emphasizing his stance: "I will let y'all know when I’m in love."
Despite his protestations, it seems like Teachy has doubled down on her original stance.
The Shade Room shared a screenshot of an alleged message from Teachey that appeared to fuel the rumors.
The message read: "Come on, Kid. A time was had," followed by: "Why he lie to y'all man."
In a follow-up post, Teachey shared a video of a note that read "Diesel" — O'Neal's DJ name — written in capital letters.
The note, reportedly from a New Jersey hotel, welcomed "Shaquille" back to Harrah’s Atlantic City and referenced his upcoming DJ performance at the venue's pool.
She also posted footage showing a large man sleeping on a couch and clips from backstage at a DJ set, which appeared to be O'Neal’s.
Once again, O'Neal has clapped back in an Instagram video of his own, where he mocks the situation alongside his "real girlfriend," Alexa Leighton.
The video opens with Leighton sitting in a chair, saying: "Hi, I'm Shaq's girlfriend, and when I play this song, I can get anything I want."
What follows can only be described as the world's worst exotic dance from O'Neal himself, but he seems to be having a good time with it.
He captioned the post: "My real girlfriend knows I’m a big black exotic dancer. #itwasntme."
Despite the back-and-forth, Teachey seemed to downplay the ongoing speculation in a later video to her followers.
"It's a new day. Let’s get to work. Don't believe everything you see. Back to work," she said.
This situation gets weirder and weirder.
