In a moment that quickly became internet folklore, Shaquille O’Neal stunned viewers when he abruptly exited the set of Inside the NBA during a live broadcast for a bathroom break. However, now he’s revealed it was all a ruse.
As his co-hosts continued breaking down playoff performances, Shaq was caught on camera sprinting offstage, an exit that sparked endless speculation and jokes across social media platforms from the loveable character.
Initially brushing off the incident, O’Neal gave a series of inconsistent explanations in follow-up appearances. On The Big Podcast, he claimed it was merely a false alarm, dismissing suggestions from co-host Adam Lefkoe and producer Shaine Freeman that it was more serious.
He then doubled down on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, insisting he only needed to use the urinal and not the full toilet, before later attributed his sudden exit to a new health regimen.
However, at the ripe old age of 53 years old, the four-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP has decided to clear his conscience, as he finally admitted on national television it was far less flattering than a simple number one.
“You know what? I just made a mistake,” O’Neal told Fallon. “I lied to you on national TV.
“It wasn’t a number-one run. It was a number-two run. I had to go bad. Oh, I had to go so bad.”
Can Shaq turn his bathroom blunder into cash gold?
The confession drew uproarious laughter from the studio audience and in a separate show, TNT wasted no time adding a Porta Potty next to the 53-year-old analyst on the following broadcast for any future quick getaways he may need.
Even major adult diaper brands began eyeing the four-time NBA champion for promotional partnerships. TMZ reported that NorthShore Care, a company known for its high-absorbency incontinence products, reached out with a proposal to collaborate.
The company even offered Shaq a custom “Shaq Support Pack,” which includes their GoSupreme line in size 3XL for the 7ft2in former athlete, who starred for the Los Angeles Lakers.
“Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t have to worry about running off set for a bathroom break anymore… ’cause adult diaper brands are lining up to give him free product!” read a statement shared by TMZ, something the ex-hooper found amusing.
Though no official partnership has been confirmed, the market potential is clear and is projected to reach $20.1 billion no later than 2031 – representing a fine business chance for Shaq.
Whether he ultimately decides to engage in the adult diaper industry remains uncertain, but the viral nature of the incident has opened new avenues in his already diverse business portfolio.
More than just a humorous footnote in sports media, Shaq‘s bathroom blunder underscores his rare ability to turn embarrassment into entertainment and possibly, into opportunity, part of why he remains so beloved by NBA fans to this day.
Read the full article here
