Shaquille O’Neal’s personal life has been just as big as he is, and the last few years have been wild. I love Shaq. There’s something about the big guy that is impossible not to like. But between the lawsuits, the side chicks and the accusations, his life away from the court reads like a movie. Here are 10 of the wildest moments, and every opinion in here is mine, unless you agree.
1. The tracking devices. In 2009, Shaq allegedly had tracking software put on Shaunie’s car and phone. According to former employee Shawn Darling, Shaq suspected Shaunie was in contact with his mistress at the time, Vanessa Lopez, and wanted to know who his wife was talking to.
2. The kidnapping case. Robert Ross, a former friend of Shaq’s, claimed gang members kidnapped and beat him in 2008 while mentioning Shaq’s name and demanding a sex tape. The case against seven gang members fell apart in August 2011, after prosecutors said they no longer trusted Ross as a witness. On the stand, Ross admitted he lied about having a sex tape at all. Shaq denied any involvement and was never charged.
3. The hacker lawsuit. Shawn Darling, the computer consultant who worked for Shaq, sued him with some of the wildest claims yet. He says Shaq tried to set him up with child pornography to keep him quiet, out of fear Darling would tell Shaunie he was cheating with far more women than Vanessa Lopez. Shaq’s lawyer says the allegations are false, calls Darling a convicted felon trying to extort millions, and says a judge already dismissed his original complaint.
4. Vanessa Lopez. Shaq’s alleged mistress claims things turned ugly when she ended it. She says he suspected her of seeing someone else, sent her threatening texts, and sent his sisters to shut her up. She also claims it only got worse once she told him she might be pregnant.
5. Alexis “MaryJane” Miller. In 2008, the singer claimed Shaq stalked and harassed her after their six month fling ended. That included heavy breathing phone calls and an email she says warned her that one phone call was all it would take. She also claims he tried to blackball her by paying artists $500 apiece not to work with her.
6. The Laura Govan emails. In 2009, TheYBF posted screenshots of emails supposedly between Shaq and Basketball Wives star Laura Govan. Laura has always said they were fake, and she says the two are like brother and sister.
7. The Kobe feud. Shaq and Kobe Bryant never fully recovered from their Lakers breakup. Kobe told investigators in 2003 that Shaq had paid women to keep quiet. Years later, in 2008, Shaq hit a club stage with a freestyle taking shots at Kobe that left very little to the imagination.
8. Shaunie had enough. After everything, Shaunie filed for divorce in 2009, ending one of the most talked about marriages in the NBA.
9. Hoopz. Shaq has since moved on to reality star Hoopz. Now, I ain’t saying she’s a gold digger, but…
10. He’s doing the most. This one is pure opinion. Shaq is too big and too grown for tracking devices, lawsuits, threatening texts and freestyle beef. Sir, you are doing the absolute most. Hoopz should keep her eyes open.
