Fans criticized Shaquille O’Neal’s “perverted” and “creepy” remarks towards WNBA star Angel Reese regarding the “little ass shorts” she recently wore.
On Reese’s “Unapologetically Angel” podcast episode on Thursday, the former Los Angeles Lakers star, 52, discussed how the outfit the Chicago Sky star wore to a “Wild ‘N Out” event in Chicago earlier this month could help her make money.
“Imagine you in them same little ass shorts you had on at the ‘Wild ‘N Out’ show dunking. You know how many T-shirts you gon’ sell? You trippin’,” he said, referring to the blue shorts Reese wore that exposed the lower half of her buttocks.
“Them same little ass shorts you had on at ‘Wild ‘n Out’ … I’m just saying,” he added.
Reese, 22, immediately appeared uncomfortable with the topic and attempted to change the subject.
“OK, all right, all right, all right,” she interjected.
O’Neal’s comments elicited backlash from fans who argued that he had overstepped the boundaries with his mentee.
“Shaq sexualizing Angel Reese when he’s 30 years her senior and has kids older than her,” wrote one X user alongside a GIF of Tiffany Haddish gagging.
“angel reese learned a painful lesson about men through shaq in real time, i fear,” added another.
“Shaq is 52 years old and has gotten a free pass for being creepy because he’s an nba legend. Angel Reese looks at Shaq like a father figure mentor type and he’s talking about her in booty shorts lmao,” said a third person.
“I’m glad people are recognizing Shaq’s creepy and perverted behavior. What I don’t like is some people following up with ‘well if Angel dresses like that what does she expect.’ She can dress sexy and still not want to be sexually harassed,” wrote a fourth user.
Page Six has reached out to representatives for both O’Neal and Reese but has not immediately received a response.
O’Neal and Reese have maintained a close relationship since she gained fame following her transition from LSU to the professional level.
Last October, the four-time NBA champion, who serves as the president of basketball operations at Reebok, signed the DC Power Football Club co-owner to a multi-year name, image, and likeness deal with the shoe and clothing brand.
In January, Reese stated that she considered O’Neal as a “father figure.”
“He’s super inspiring to me. He’s so genuine, he’s been there for me through tough times. He just gets it, and there’s not a more perfect person for me to be tight with,” she told USA Today at the time.
“We have fun, and if I need anything, he would help me … and he would do that even if I never played basketball again. He doesn’t care about me as a player, he cares about me as a person.”
