Shaquille O’Neal’s response to the joke about Jay-Z on Tuesday’s ‘Inside the NBA’ was TNT was nothing more than ‘banter’ and they don’t see a need to apologize to the rapper, it has been revealed.
The NBA legend O’Neal got up and walked off the set in an exaggerated manner when Kenny Smith brought the rapper’s name up in a discussion over a free-throw challenge.
Charles Barkley said that it’s ‘probably not a good time right now’ for the music mogul, sparking hysterical laughter before O’Neal left his seat and walked slowly away.
Barkley was referencing how a woman who previously sued Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000, amended her lawsuit on Sunday to claim that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault when she was 13. Jay-Z vehemently denies the claims.
As for Inside the NBA, a source told DailyMail.Com: ‘Shaq, Charles, Kenny and the gang say what they want, when they want and that is why so many people love the show, because everyone is so nonchalant and are always trying to be entertaining.
‘Look, everyone was laughing and it was a fun moment based on a serious allegation. Shaq’s animated walk off response was done in the moment because that is who he is, and always has been.
Shaquille O’Neal jokingly walked off the ‘Inside the NBA’ set amid a joke about Jay-Z
The NBA icon has been close with the music mogul, who denies accusations of rape
O’Neal, it is claimed, doesn’t see a reason to apologize to his friend for joking about the case
‘They all bounce off each other and have this banter all the time and never intend to hurt anyone’s feelings. This is in the same regard. Shaq isn’t going to be or has been reprimanded for it, it is business as usual.’
The source added that the gang don’t plan to apologize to Jay-Z, saying: ‘If this gets back to Jay, and he is upset by it, that is his problem. Everyone on the internet is joking on him and are after him with negativity. This was done with no ill intent whatsoever.
‘So if Jay were to ever comment on it and extend the conversation about what was clearly a joke, then they will cross that bridge if and when that occurs. But don’t anticipate any type of apology coming up. It was done, it was funny and that’s that.’
The source continued: ‘Shaq and Charles are always on their toes and everyone loves busting balls, that is what makes them such great panelists and more importantly friends.
‘This would have happened at a BBQ and everyone would have had the same reaction and would be saying the same things and joking about it, they just happened to do it on national television. It hits different.
‘If anyone’s feelings were hurt, I mean, come on, that would be the ultimate joke of it all. Shaq is not stressing over it and nobody else should have a problem with what was obviously fun banter over an unfortunate situation.’
The 52-year-old O’Neal has always spoken fondly of Jay-Z throughout his time in the public eye.
In 2013, talking to Vibe magazine, the basketball icon said: ‘Jay-Z, sort of, reminds me of myself. We’re the same age, but even though the trends keep changing, we change with the trends and we still dominate whatever the trend is.’
Jay-Z, pictured with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, has vehemently denied the claims against him
Previously, O’Neal has been open over the years about his admiration for the rapper
In 2024, showing off a Superman chain, O’Neal wrote as his Instagram caption: ‘The one and only SUPERMAN. “DONT COMPARE ME TO NOBODY, I rather not BE MENTIONED. I’M Offended”. quote from one of my favorite people JAY Z.’
The 24-time Grammy award winning rapper, producer and music mogul called the allegations ‘idiotic’ and ‘heinous in nature’.
The 55-year-old issued a lengthy statement to DailyMail.com Sunday in which he claimed that, before the lawsuit was refiled with his name, his lawyers had received ‘a blackmail attempt, called a demand letter from a “lawyer” named Tony Buzbee’.
Buzbee is the Texas-based lawyer representing more than one hundred of Combs’s alleged victims.
According to Jay-Z, Buzbee had calculated that ‘the nature of these allegations and the public scrutiny would make me want to settle’.
He stated: ‘No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion. So no, I will not give you ONE RED PENNY!!’
