NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has done it again to show that he’s the king of clapbacks. When rumors ran rampant that the 52-year-old sports legend was dating rising OnlyFans personality Sophie Rain, Shaq closed the whole thing down with one post on Instagram:
“I don’t date that young but I will date your mom and give u a brother.”
The line was meme material the second it was spoken, careening through Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram quicker than a Shaq free throw in the 2001 Finals.
How the Rumours Started
The drama ensued after Sophie Rain marked her 21st birthday while in Los Angeles by posting a cheeky picture with O’Neal. In the photo, Shaq wore an all-black outfit and hat while Rain rocked beside him in a transparent white net gown, drink raised, middle finger to the camera.
Her post was: “look who i ran into on my birthday!!”
In a matter of minutes, the Twitter detectives had concluded the two were privately dating, and a torrent of comment ensued that combined disbelief, disgust, and sheer amusement.
Social Media Responses
The internet did not hold back:
“Shaq appears to be somebody’s PawPaw being funky at the grands’ basement birthday hoedown.”
“Gross but not actually surprising coming from Shaq.”
“Omg I thought she was his daughter and I wanted to know why everyone was mad. Aww hell no.”
Not all were holding their collective breath, however. Some fans relished the randomness:
“Only Sophie would bump into a real-life legend on her birthday.” “Birthday level: legendary.”
“Shaq really be looking like that cool uncle.”
One of the TikTok breakdowns of the drama by Noah Glenn Carter pulled millions of views and cemented the moment of pure internet madness.
Sophie Rain Responds
In an exclusive interview with Where Is The Buzz, Rain poked fun at the rumors and praised Shaq’s enthusiasm during her celebration:
“I did not think my 21st would go this way. Shaq was so gracious, so real. He made me feel like I was the center of attention, which is crazy to say because it was my birthday.”
She specifically mentioned the dating rumors: “We are just friends, haha! He reached out to me after and was like damn, we are famous, haha. I don’t know why people think we are dating.”
