Skip to main content

Shaquille O'Neal Says Joe Exotic Isn't His Friend After 'Tiger King' Cameo

Shaquille ONeal Says Joe Exotic Isnt His Friend After Tiger King Cameo
Joe Exotic Netflix

Standing his ground. Shaquille O’Neal set the record straight about the ins and outs of his relationship with one of the stars of Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness after making a surprising cameo in the docuseries.

‘Tiger King’ Stars Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, More: Where Are They Now?

The retired NBA star, 48, took heat on social media when he appeared on an episode of the popular Netflix documentary and toured the Oklahoma zoo run by Joe Exotic (real name Joseph Maldonado-Passage). The self-proclaimed “Tiger King” is currently serving 22 years in prison on two counts of murder-for-hire and 17 wildlife-related charges, causing fans to wonder why O’Neal would associate himself with a criminal.

“I love tigers, especially white ones,” the former basketball player explained during the latest episode of “The Big Podcast With Shaq,” recalling how he first discovered the Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park. “It’s a beautiful place, and the character that was there was Exotic Joe … I dropped some donations for the tigers’ food and all that, we take pictures with tigers and we went back a couple times. Then we go back another time and we found out that he’s involved with all that stuff and I actually stopped going.”

What to Watch This Week While Social Distancing

O’Neal admitted that he had binge-watched the Netflix series and learned the details of what the zookeeper was allegedly involved in, but that he wasn’t worried about being painted in a bad light.

Shaquille ONeal Says Joe Exotic Isnt His Friend After Tiger King Cameo
Shaquille O’Neal attends Shaq’s Fun House on January 3, 2020 in Miami, Florida. Jason Merritt/Radarpics/Shutterstock

“People that know me know I’m righteous,” the sports analyst added. “I don’t harm tigers. I love tigers … Listen, people are going to make their own opinions but again, I was just a visitor. I met this guy — not my friend. Don’t know him. Never had any business dealings with him, and I had no idea any of that stuff was going on.”

10 Best Reality TV Shows of the 2010s

Celebrities have been going wild for the Netflix docuseries and its colorful characters since it debuted earlier this month. While O’Neal may not be supportive of Exotic’s actions, Cardi B hasn’t been afraid to rally behind the tiger breeder.

“They did Joe so dirty over and over again,” the 27-year-old rapper tweeted while watching the series. “Who you think is more wrong? Narcissist Joe? Or Greedy Carol? And Why?”

Listen on Spotify to Us Weekly's Hot Hollywood as each week the editors of Us break down the hottest entertainment news stories!

from Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/2WWi7fo

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Kaley Cuoco Spanked by Husband Karl Cook While Doing Koala Challenge

The couple that plays together, stays together! Kaley Cuoco and husband Karl Cook took their playfulness to the next level while attempting to do the latest viral craze, the koala challenge. Kaley Cuoco and Karl Cook: A Timeline of Their Relationship The Big Bang Theory   alum, 34, shared two videos of herself and her hubby, 29, trying the challenge, which involves someone moving around another person without falling or touching the ground, on Saturday, April 18. In the first video, Cuoco is on Cook’s back as she says, “Don’t drop me on my head!” “You have to participate, OK? You ready?” the equestrian responds. The 8 Simple Rules alum swings in front of Cook as she bursts out laughing. “This is scary!” she screams between laughs. Cook then puts Cuoco over his shoulder and spanks her several times as the couple struggles to perform the challenge. How Celebrity Couples Are Self-Quarantining “First (of many) MEGA FAIL’s at #thekoalachallenge with my very patient ...

Pink Helps Husband Carey Hart Recover After Spinal Surgery

Carey Hart and Pink. Rob Latour/Shutterstock Hello nurse! Carey Hart is recovering from spinal surgery with lots of help from his wife, Pink — and he couldn’t be more thankful. Pink and Carey Hart's Relationship Timeline Read article The motocross star , 46, underwent lower spine disc replacement surgery on Thursday, September 23, and let fans know that the procedure was a “success” hours after he got out of the operating room. “One down and one to go,” he wrote on Instagram , adding that he was “up and out of bed and walking, just a few hours post-surgery.” By the next morning, he was already heading home. While still in the hospital on Friday, September 24, he posted a video of himself in his post-op gown taking a stroll around the building. “Been up five times since this,” he bragged. “Can’t wait to come back stronger than ever, and kick ass on my dirt bike in 2022.” While he thanked the staff at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Newport Beach, California, he gave the...

Royal Baby Watch! Duchess Meghan's Mom Doria Is In London Ahead of Birth

Things are getting real! Duchess Meghan ’s mom, Doria Ragland , has arrived in the United Kingdom as the due date of the royal baby inches closer. Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan: A Timeline of Their Relationship The yoga instructor, 62, flew from Los Angeles to London as the Suits alum, 37, and Prince Harry await the arrival of their first child . Though speculation began to swirl that Meghan has already given birth, Queen Elizabeth II ’s former press secretary Dickie Arbiter shared on Monday, April 15, that the talk was untrue . “If you believe that [she had her baby], you’d believe anything,” Arbiter, 79, said during an interview with Today Extra . “It’s really a case of keeping the royal rumor mill going — a good story sells a newspaper but, quite frankly, there isn’t any substance to it.” Everything We Know About How Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Will Raise Their Royal Baby As for when the public will be made aware of the newest royal baby, the On Duty With The Queen au...