Shaq Threatens RGIII Over Angel Reese Meme
Ah yes, another day in the Twitter gladiator ring. Shaquille O’Neal took off his podcast shades and issued a blunt warning to Robert Griffin III after the former NFL quarterback amplified a racist meme targeting WNBA star Angel Reese. Speaking on the “Off The Record” podcast this week, the 15-time NBA All Star didn’t mince words: “Tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I’m going to punch you in your fucking face. OK? It’s enough.” (TMZ)
Griffin III shared the offensive image on July 10, shortly after Reese was announced as the cover athlete for the WNBA edition of NBA 2K26. His intention, he said, was to condemn the racist content and rally his followers to denounce it. Instead, his repost gave the meme extra oxygen, drawing fire from fans and public figures alike. Among the loudest was Shaq, who accused RGIII of stirring trouble and advised Reese to stay out of the fray. “I actually had to tell her not to respond,” Shaq added dryly. “Fucking stop it. That’s the last time, OK? Thank you.”
The NBA legend’s theatrics reached peak tension when he stared directly into the camera and delivered a line that will likely echo in sports podcasts for weeks: “I don’t usually do stuff like this, but just stop it, bro. You got your job, you got your podcast, leave my Angel Reese alone.” Shaq followed up by pointing out that all Griffin might be remembered for is hosting a podcast – a subtle jab at RGIII’s post-NFL career pivot. “That should tell you you’re not that fucking great,” Shaq quipped.
Griffin has stayed silent on the matter since Shaq’s outburst, though his X account remains active and contentious. Fans on social media are split between defending RGIII’s attempt to spotlight racism and applauding Shaq’s protective stance. In the middle of this digital brawl stands Angel Reese herself, fresh off a breakout season at LSU and now immortalized in video game form. She has yet to publicly comment on Shaq’s threat or Griffin’s original post, suggesting she might prefer a quieter victory lap on the court.
Racist taunts aimed at athletes of color are nothing new, but the public clash between two celebrated sports figures over civil decency marks a rare moment of cross-sport solidarity. Shaq’s intervention underscores the power of celebrity voices in calling out hate speech, even if it comes with a side of heavy gym gloves. Is this a turning point in how sports luminaries police online discourse? Or just another pit stop in an era where every glance, gesture, and retweet can ignite a media cyclone?
Only time will tell if RGIII responds or if Shaq carries through on his ominous promise. In the meantime, Angel Reese can focus on her WNBA 2K26 cover and let the keyboard warriors toss their insults to the wind. Stay tuned for the next round of this digital heavyweight bout—because it already has more drama than a seventh game in the finals. Well, that’s it for now. Humanity at its finest.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
