SUMMARY
- During the latest episode of 'The Big Podcast with Shaq,' the former Lakers player opened up about his first meeting with Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl.
- Shaquille O’Neal was asked to wait till halftime to meet Taylor Swift.
Shaquille O’Neal and Taylor Swift are the biggest names in their respective industries. What would a meet-up be like for the former NBA star and $1.1 billion rich singer? We don’t have to think about this as O’Neal recently shared his first-hand experience. It might come as a surprise that the two met for the first time relatively recently during the Super Bowl.
During the latest episode of ‘The Big Podcast with Shaq,’ the former Lakers player opened up about his exciting experience. He spoke about how it is overwhelming for popular personalities when so many people come to meet him and this is why he likes to keep his meet-ups short. After this, O’Neal said, “If I wouldn’t have had you hook me up with Jason, I would have never tried to meet Taylor Swift,” to Adam Lefkoe.
He continued to talk about how because of the hookup with Jason, he met Swift and said, “Even then when I met her I said this is going to be 3 minutes.” After talking a bit about how his first meet with the singer went, he revealed that if he remembers the numbers correctly then he was in 188. On the other hand, Swift was in 192 so the difference between them was barely anything and it was just a quick walk.
Shaquille O’Neal was asked to wait till halftime to meet Taylor Swift
As soon as Shaquille O’Neal was done telling how he wouldn’t have tried to meet Taylor Swift if he hadn’t hooked him up with Jason Kelce, Adam Lefkoe said that he hasn’t ever revealed to him how it went. The 4x NBA Championship winner responded by saying, “So I went the first time her security said uh wait till halftime.” As he was saying this Lefkoe interrupted to tell this was at the Super Bowl.
O’Neal explained that he didn’t want to disturb Swift during the game. There was a guy who told O’Neal that he would convey to Jason that Shaq wanted to meet his girlfriend, Swift. The same guy told the retired basketball player to come in the halftime. He went in the halftime and revealed, “So me and my partner, Jamie Salted, we go down we take a picture and I see her.” Amidst this, O’Neal started to talk about how Ice Spice is fine as fu*k.
Shaquille O’Neal took a picture with Taylor Swift to show to his kids
During an interview with People, Shaquille O’Neal spoke about how he met Taylor Swift’s mother and father as well during the Super Bowl. He also emphasized that he knows what celebrities go through so he kept his meeting very short. In addition to this, O’Neal greeted Swift and “took a picture for my kids that I can show ’em” after which, he said “Love you” to the singer.
💬| “If I see Taylor Swift and get to shake her hand, take a picture, I’ll be good,”…”She’s a fabulous person. I’m happy for her. I’m proud of her. She’s done a lot. She’s definitely a cultural icon,”….”I just want to shake the hand of greatness.”
– Shaquille O’Neal on… pic.twitter.com/wRCosZwRzK
— Taylor Swift Updates 🩶 (@swifferupdates) February 10, 2024
Interestingly, just a while before his first meeting with Swift, O’Neal spoke to Page Six and said, “If I see Taylor Swift and get to shake her hand, take a picture, I’ll be good.” After this, he spoke about the ‘Blank Space’ singer and called her a fabulous person while emphasizing that she is definitely a cultural icon – something that countless people would agree with.