Shaquille O’Neal been riding for Angel Reese since she was hoopin’ at LSU—and that loyalty clearly hasn’t wavered one bit. In a new interview on the Off The Record podcast, Shaq didn’t mince words when checking former NFL star Robert Griffin III over what he saw as disrespectful, racially insensitive posts about the rising WNBA star.
“RGIII, tweet another monkey post about my girl Angel Reese and I’m gonna punch you in your f—–g face,” Shaq snapped during the podcast. “It’s enough. Like, I don’t usually do stuff like this but just stop it bro.”
Let’s Go! Angel Reese Is Named the Cover Athlete for the NBA 2K26 WNBA Edition
He doubled down, adding, “You got your job, you got your podcast. Leave my Angel Reese alone. I’m the one calling her and telling her not to respond. F—–g stop it. That’s the last time, okay?”
This all came after RGIII caught heat online for reposting a racist photo edit of Angel Reese while commenting on alleged tension between her and Caitlin Clark. Even though he claimed he was highlighting how wild and hateful the photo was, folks weren’t buying it—especially since he followed up by claiming Reese “hates” Clark and that people from her camp backed it up.
Griffin tweeted,
“People in Angel’s inner circle called me and told me I was right and Angel Reese has grown to hate Caitlin Clark because of the media always asking her about Caitlin and being constantly compared to her.”
But Reese ain’t let that slide. She came through on X (formerly Twitter) and shut the whole thing down:
“Lying on this app when everybody knows the first and last name of everybody in my circle for clout is nastyyyy work.”
And her mama even chimed in calling Griffin out. One thing’s for sure—Reese’s tribe don’t play about her, and neither does Shaq.
Shaq and Angel: A Bond That Goes Deeper Than Basketball
Shaquille O’Neal ain’t just a fan from the sidelines. He’s been publicly uplifting Reese for years—ever since she made headlines for unapologetically being herself and leading LSU to a national title. He’s always applauded her confidence, her Black girl energy, and her refusal to shrink herself for the masses.
So, when RGIII decided to take the discourse to a toxic level and speak on supposed “hate” between Reese and Clark, it wasn’t just disrespectful—it was triggering for a lot of Black athletes and fans who’ve seen similar narratives play out.
Let’s be clear: Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark don’t owe anyone forced friendship or rivalry. They are two elite athletes grinding in their own lanes. But social media loves to pit Black women against white women for clicks—and RGIII throwing gasoline on that fire didn’t sit right with Shaq or fans.
Shaq’s message wasn’t just about RGIII. It was a callout of how often people take subtle (and sometimes overt) jabs at young Black women in the public eye and expect them not to clap back.
“I’m the one calling her and telling her not to respond.”
That’s protection. That’s mentorship. That’s what real community looks like.
What Sparked the Drama Between Angel Reese and RGIII?
So, let’s run it back. RGIII hopped on X and reshared a racially offensive fan-made photo of Reese with the intention (he claims) to condemn it. But instead of just saying “this is unacceptable,” he used it as an opening to throw shade—claiming Reese “hates” Caitlin Clark and that it’s “confirmed” by folks in her camp.
The internet wasn’t feeling it. Black Twitter, WNBA fans, and Reese herself called him out for spreading false narratives. Not only did it feel like he was gaslighting her, but he was also amplifying racist content under the guise of “calling it out.”
Shaq took that personally. As someone who’s faced media attacks and watched young Black athletes get dragged over nothing, he drew the line and made it clear—Angel Reese is off limits.