Shaquille O’Neal has never been shy about speaking his mind, but his latest on-air moment might have pushed things too far. During Inside the NBA’s final show before the All-Star break, the Hall of Famer shocked viewers by casually dropping an F-bomb on live television.
As the show wrapped up, O’Neal referenced Marshawn Lynch’s famous quote before bluntly stating, “We getting fired anyway, Ernie. F- it!” His comments caught his co-hosts off guard and could land TNT in trouble with the FCC.
But while Shaq joked about job security, the reality is quite the opposite. According to Front Office Sports, he just signed a long-term contract extension with the network worth over $15 million per year. The deal ensures he will remain a key part of Inside the NBA, even as the show transitions to ESPN and ABC.
Charles Barkley also decided to stay with TNT
O’Neal’s new contract follows Charles Barkley’s decision to reject offers from NBC and Amazon to stay with Turner Sports. Kenny Smith is also expected to sign an extension, keeping the crew together despite uncertainty surrounding the network’s NBA coverage.
While Shaq’s job is safe, his unfiltered sign-off may have led to some tense calls from network executives. Inside the NBA is known for its loose, unscripted style, but dropping an F-bomb on live TV may have crossed a line-even for him.
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