When bizarre internet rumors out of nowhere spiral into a major scandal, celebrities often take control of the narrative themselves. Recently, one such baseless rumor brought together NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal and pop star Sabrina Carpenter, as they appeared in disturbing headlines. 

The situation began when alleged online screenshots appeared, which showed O'Neal sending Carpenter dangerous yet flirty direct messages. Social media platforms quickly spread the messages, which contained extreme and detailed content that users found both astonishing and unbelievable.

After O'Neal was accused of inappropriate behavior, he has finally cleared the air.

Shaquille O’Neal, a.k.a, Shaq, who faced growing speculation about the Sabrina Carpenter scandal, has responded by denying the existence of such messages. The former basketball player, on his podcast, Big Podcast with Shaq, called the screenshots fake because they showed artificial intelligence-generated content, while he demonstrated that the account used had multiple inconsistencies and faults.

In typical Shaq fashion, the star also injected dark humor into his response. He said the style of the fake h**** DMs towards Carpenter could not match his own swag, which is the main proof that he could have never written those messages.

"First of all, the Diesel has way more game than that," O'Neal joked on the podcast, stressing that those texts did not reflect his personality or style.

Meanwhile, his co-hosts, who included rapper Jim Jones, discussed the dangers of social media and AI, while mocking the cringe lines in the viral screenshot, which contained bizarre pick-up lines. The current social media landscape forced O'Neal to set the record straight, as several people are unable to distinguish between fake news and reality, which further highlights the risk of AI-generated content.

The rattling viral texts also contained an acknowledgement of Shaq's stature from Carpenter, further worsening the situation. However, the NBA legend stood his ground and dismissed such claims, while maintaining his integrity as he continues to enjoy a smooth dating life himself.

"F--- AI" - Guillermo del Toro Slams AI at Netflix's 'Frankenstein' Screening

Scrapping the viral fake DM aside, curious about what Shaq has to say about his love life?

During an appearance on Sarah Fontenot's It's Giving podcast, Shaquille O’Neal revealed that relationships for him do not just concern one person, but rather the entire family. According to Shaq's mindset, which he shared in March 2025: If he is dating a single mother, it would mean drafting the children would be a part of his relationship.

"If I ever date somebody and I become close to the child, I'm the daddy now. So I'm responsible for a lot of kids," he said on the podcast.

For O'Neal, inviting someone into his life means showing up for them and being consistently present for them, through thick and thin, especially when children are involved. The relationship would not be limited to biology, because he said he prefers not to use the term stepfather, but goes with father at all times. Shaquille O’Neal has never been one not vocal about his personal ideologies, whether it is a socio-political concern, fake AI-crisis, or his dating life. 

Sabrina Carpenter Channels The Diva Inside in A Wicked Blue Dress at Grammys 2025

What are your thoughts on Shaq's response to the AI-scandal? Let us know in the comments.