Shaquille O’Neal Explains the Viral Rumors That He Sent Sabrina Carpenter ‘Horny’ DMs

Shaquille O’Neal wants to set the record straight about a viral rumor he sent “horny” DMs to Sabrina Carpenter.

O’Neal, 54, explained on the Saturday, March 21 episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq that the alleged messages between himself and Carpenter, 26, are fake.

While talking with guests rapper Jim Jones and Bailey Jackson, the NBA legend said he would read the messages aloud and told them, “I want you to tell me if it’s me or not me.”

O’Neal then read a fake message that told the “Manchild” singer he wanted to keep her “farts in a cologne bottle” and “spray it on me everyday,” as Jones, 49, said, “That’s crazy.”

The fictional message got a reply from the fake Carpenter, who said, “I know who you are. You’re way too famous to be sending me messages like that,” to

O’Neal has been the subject of several internet rumors regarding his love life recently, which led him to deny claims that he’s dating 21-year-old OnlyFans model Sophie Rain. He also had to set the record straight on a photo he took with a friend’s wife in December.

“My favorite thing is always saying, ‘image is reality,’ ” O’Neal told PEOPLE in December after the rumors circulated on social media.

He said “nothing is going to stop me from taking pictures” with friends or fans, but when “the false narrative comes out and you get another guy taking the picture and putting it on his page…it’s all clickbait.”

which the fake O’Neal asked if he “can’t be horny” before telling her she “can’t handle the big Diesel anyway.”

“That went viral,” O’Neal told his viewers as Jackson clarified that the viral screenshots “have your picture photoshopped” to appear as the sender.

O’Neal joked, “First of all, ladies, the Diesel got way more game than that,” while shaking off the rumors.