Shaquille O’Neal has social media buzzing after a video from a little girl’s birthday party sparked rumors that the NBA legend may have a secret daughter.
The chatter started this week after the footage showed O’Neal playing with the young girl during her Peppa Pig-themed party.
As additional photos from the party circulated online, social media users quickly began sharing their own theories. Some pointed out that a woman identified as Kay appeared to have an “O’Neal” tattoo on her ribcage, while others focused on the toddler’s name, Shaqirah, as another possible connection to the basketball legend.
Internet sleuths also uncovered what they claim is the little girl’s Instagram page, which uses the username “shaqirahoneal” and includes the bio, “Mommy @kayyourstruly Daddy @shaq.”
The speculation continued gaining traction online, with users flooding comment sections with reactions.
“Why the baby really look like Shaq though?” one person wrote.
Another added, “The internet FBI already working overtime.”
Shaq also appeared to respond to the rumors in an Instagram Story post that featured a meme reading, “My daughter, My Daughter, The one I thank God for every single day.”
Shaq is already a father to six children. He shares Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah with ex-wife Shaunie Henderson. He is also the father to Taahirah from a previous relationship and helped raise Shaunie’s son, Myles.
The basketball legend has often spoken publicly about fatherhood and recently appeared to reference having seven children during an interview on TODAY.
“I hate using this word, but I have seven perfect children. I haven’t had a problem with any of my children ever. God bless,” O’Neal said.
He also shared the advice he gives his children about choosing their own paths.
“We don’t need another basketball player. At all. So if you want to play basketball, cool, but please go to law school. Please go to medical school. Please be an engineer. Please be an AI inventor. Just do something else,” O’Neal, 53, said. “So I give them freedom to be who they are. I never press them.”