Tyler Perry has finalized a groundbreaking deal to purchase BET Networks, the prominent Black Entertainment Television network. This acquisition grants Perry control over BET Media Group, including VH1. Perry already owns a minority stake in the streaming service BET+. TV and film mogul Tyler Perry has recently finalized a deal to purchase a majority stake […]
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Shaq has been a busy man as of late. For instance, just yesterday, the former NBA superstar was in Sonoma, California where he got to DJ after the NASCAR race. Overall, it was a big celebration out there as Martin Truex Jr. won the race in a dominant fashion. However, on social media, fans were talking about the legend in a whole different light. Ultimately, this was due to some recent DMs that were leaked between himself and a woman named Ariana Josephine. For those who don’t know, she is the viral Home Depot girl.
Josephine gained fame when she took to social media with a photo of herself in her Home Depot outfit. She made it clear that she enjoys working this job and would never start an OnlyFans. This received a ton of support, however, it quickly devolved after she made some unsavory comments about sex workers. Subsequently, Shaq entered her DMs to tell her that she is doing nothing wrong. “Don’t let them people bother u,” he wrote. He then said to have a great day and to let her boyfriends know he says “hi.”
Read More: Shaquille O’Neal And Brittany Renner Spotted At Dinner
Shaq says he was just trying to uplift the viral Home Depot lady
pic.twitter.com/bNSwLncgcn
— Ball Room Service
(@ballroomservice) June 11, 2023
Of course, a lot of people took this as Shaq trying to shoot his shot at the young woman. However, he quickly made sure to dispel these comments. “Just uplifting people that’s what the diesel do baby I uplift people, google me,” he wrote in DJ Akademiks’ comments section. Clearly, he was a bit annoyed with everyone trying to project onto him, and he let those feelings be known. Ultimately, it is good to see Shaq standing up for himself in these situations. Although, there is no doubt that Home Depot girl is getting even more clout than before.
Of course, Shaq has a bit more time on his hands now that TNT is done covering the NBA for the year. The Finals are always on ESPN, much to the dismay of a lot of fans. Regardless, this is a time when Diesel can do whatever he wants. That includes DM’ing women online, at his own discretion.
Read More: Shaq Warns Producers: “I’m Coming For That Throne”
The post Shaq Responds After DM’ing Viral Home Depot Worker appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal was gong to dinner with fitness model and Instagram influencer Brittany Renner. Shaq’s dating history has always been a little bit of a mystery. He was long associated with film marketer Shaunie O’Neal, whom he married in 1996. However, the couple divorced in 2007, something that Shaq blamed on former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant. Most recently, Shaq was seen with actress Annie Ilonzeh.
Meanwhile, Renner, who has five million followers on Instagram, has a long history of dating athletes. Her partners include Colin Kaepernick, Ben Simmons, James Harden, and P.J. Washington. Furthermore, she has also been linked with the likes of Lil Uzi Vert, Drake, Chris Brown, and Trey Songz. Her relationship with Washington, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets, is her most notable one. Renner and Washington have a son together, who was born in 2021. However, the pair split in 2022.
Footage obtained by TMZ showed Shaq and Renner arriving at a Beverly Hills hotel for dinner around 6pm on June 5. The meal reportedly lasted around two hours, with both diners in good spirits. Afterward, the pair left separately around 8pm. However, sources from both camps have told TMZ in the strongest terms that the pair are not dating. Instead, they have been friends for some time and were merely catching up over dinner. Reportedly, it was reiterated several times to TMZ that the dinner was purely platonic.
However, another connection does exist between the pair. Shaunie O’Neal is serving as an executive producer for the upcoming season of Basketball Wives, which Renner is rumored to be a member of the cast for. Despite this, sources told TMZ that no cameras appeared to be present for Renner’s dinner with the producer’s ex-husband. As reported by TMZ, there is nothing to read into this story except two friends having dinner in LA. Follow all the latest celebrity sightings news here at HotNewHipHop.
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Shaquille O’Neal got emotional during NBA TV’s broadcast ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night. He was discussing the 23rd anniversary of the Lakers’ iconic 13-point fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Trail Blazers in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. The late Kobe Bryant famously threw up an alley-oop to Shaq to punctuate the win.
“I’m happy that happened, but every time I see my young fella, he’s not with us anymore, kinda makes me sad,” Shaq said. “Shout out to his mom and dad, we talk all the time, his sisters. Of course it was a happy moment, but if I could trade that moment and have him sitting here with us or be able to text him and say, ‘Kob’ can you believe this happened 23 years ago?’ that would be better for me.”
Read More: Kobe Bryant’s Family Had This Request For Shaq Documentary
Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in 2020. Despite their success together n the court, Shaq and Kobe feuded for years while he was alive. The NBA legend admitted that he hadn’t spoken with Bryant for years after his passing. While breaking down into tears on air at the time, Shaq remarked, “With the loss of my father and my sister, that’s the only thing I wish — that I could just say something to them. Last time I talked to (Bryant) was when we were here (in the TNT studio) and I asked him to get 50 and he got 60. That’s the last time I spoke to him.”
“Of course it was a happy moment…if I could trade that moment and have him sitting here with us…that would be better for me.”@SHAQ reflects on the iconic lob with Kobe
pic.twitter.com/hi0rmDR57w
— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 4, 2023
As for the NBA Finals, the Denver Nuggets are currently up 1-0 in the series. The Heat look to even things up tonight before heading back to Miami for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Read More: Jay Williams Delivers Wild NBA Finals Hot Take
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The Simpsons has dipped into every facet of pop culture imaginable. Professional sports are no exception. Ever since classic episodes like “Homer at the Bat,” the series has incorporated sports-themed narratives. Naturally, these episodes often led to cameos from professional athletes willing to poke fun at themselves. Some of the most notable cameos have been from the world of the NBA. From Shaq to Magic Johnson, some of the greatest players to ever set foot on the court have visited Springfield.
The Season 16 episode “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass” seemed like an unlikely platform to host professional athletes. The episode parodied early viral internet videos and the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson’s film, The Passion of the Christ. However, “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass” incorporated several professional athletes, including Lebron James and Yao Ming.
In a scene where Homer tried to recreate the story of Noah’s Ark for a halftime show, things went terribly wrong. Homer employed several professional athletes, including Tom Brady and Michelle Kwan, to help mobilize the makeshift boat. Yao Ming gets a wonderful snipe regarding the difference between labor in China and U.S. during the scene. Lebron also gets a moment to shine in the episode where he ruins a Simpson’s family dinner.
Living legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has never been a stranger to the world of film and television. The 7’ 2” NBA titan has appeared in classic films like Game of Death and Fletch. In the Season 22 episode, “Love Is a Many Strangled Thing.” Abdul-Jabbar made his debut in Springfield, where he made fun of his own large stature.
In the episode, Homer went to anger management to help quell his violent tendencies. Kareem took the position of Homer, while the Simpsons patriarch embodied his son. The result was both hilarious and uncomfortable. The scene had a metanarrative regarding Homer and Bart’s relationship, which has been scrutinized for over 30 years.
The Simpsons’ Halloween special “Treehouse of Horror” has been a seasonal hallmark for over 30 years. “Treehouse of Horror XVI” was no different. In the segment “I’ve Grown a Costume on Your Face,” the show parodied The Twilight Zone episode “The Masks.” The story centered around the residents of Springfield being cursed by a witch, who made their Halloween costumes come to life.
In the episode’s final moments, power forward Dennis Rodman appeared as an anthropomorphic baby pacifier. Rodman acclimated to the show’s self-deprecating sense of humor, casually commenting on his controversial life. Plenty of NBA cameos on The Simpsons have been bizarre, but Rodman’s was probably the most surreal.
Some episodes of The Simpsons will dedicate their entire runtime to poking fun at a particular subject. The episode “22 for 30” was one of them. Presented in a documentary format, “22 for 30” follows Bart’s rise and fall as a Springfield Elementary basketball team star player.
The episode hilariously poked fun at sports documentaries with characters arguing for camera time and declaring conflicting anecdotes. Steph Curry makes a hilarious cameo as himself. His gag was throwing a paper ball into Principal Skinner’s coffee through the Lard Lad Donuts’ mascot. It was a brief appearance from the Golden State Warriors point guard, but it felt right at home in the faux documentary.
One of the earliest NBA cameos on The Simpsons was from one of the greatest ever to play the game. In the Season 3 episode “Homer Defined,” Homer is named Employee of the Month by Mr. Burns. However, the superlative was not earnestly won as he accidentally diverted a nuclear meltdown. Homer realized his win was not well-earned. This caused him to feel guilty once Lisa started to look up to him as a role model. His guilt further deepened when he received a call from Magic Johnson, congratulating Homer on his heroism.
Shaquille O’Neal had been featured in The Simpsons before his vocal debut in the episode “Gone Boy.” Kevin Michael Richardson voiced the four-time NBA Champion in a previous episode. However, Shaq took the wheel in the recording studio to lend his vocal talents to the Season 29 episode.
The episode is a loose parody of the hit film and novel Gone Girl. The story centers around Bart disappearing and Sideshow Bob trying to manipulate Milhouse for information on his whereabouts. Homer and Grandpa Simpson run into Shaq while tracking Sideshow Bob. However, the NBA All-Star gets creeped out by the father-and-son duo for ridiculous reasons.
Dwight Howard is looking to squash his beef with Shaquille O’Neal. Appearing on FanDuel TV’s NBA-centric morning show, DH12 stated he doesn’t know what started their rift but he’s over it.
The ‘me and Shaq’ thing, I don’t know what it is,” Howard said. “If we gotta go to dinner, if we gotta come on this show and have a discussion – whatever it is… We gettin’ older… let’s squash whatever beef we got.”
“We gettin’ older… let’s squash whatever beef we got” – @DwightHoward@SHAQ, what do you say?
#RunItBack with @ShamsCharania @MichelleDBeadle @ChandlerParsons & @bansky pic.twitter.com/fFE9vnLiaZ
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) May 24, 2023
The post SOURCE SPORTS: Dwight Howard Wants to End His Beef With Shaq: ‘We Gettin’ Older’ appeared first on The Source.
The Lakers found themselves unable to overcome the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. This was despite a fourth-quarter surge that nearly derailed a historic game by Nikola Jokić. It allowed the Nuggets to maintain a perfect home record during the playoffs, setting a new NBA record in the process with seven home wins. The Nuggets went 34-7 at home during the regular season. All season long, the Nuggets have been the team to beat in the West. However, the Lakers’ playoff run as a seven-seed has become the biggest threat to the team’s first-ever Finals appearance.
However, there are plenty of reasons for Lakers fans to be hopeful about a Game 2 win. Firstly, LeBron James is 12-8 in playoff series where his team lost Game 1. Secondly, the Lakers’ second-half adjustment against the Nuggets showed that the Nuggets are mortal and can be stopped. Thirdly, Shaq believes in his former team.
Speaking after the Heat took down Boston in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Shaq was riding high on confidence. “We coming. We coming. We ain’t laying down,” said O’Neal. “Would you like me to shock you now? Say it now? Lakers tomorrow. Guarantee it. Guarantee it!” the former Laker said. It’s a bold prediction as the Lakers prepare to face another tough road game in Denver.
The Lakers have faced the Nuggets three times in the Conference Finals and hold a 3-0 record in those series. In 1985, the Magic Johnson-Byron Scott Lakers dropped Game 2 to the Nuggets in a 4-1 series win. Meanwhile, the 2009 Kobe-Gasol-Carmelo Lakers dropped Games 2 and 4 in a 4-2 series win. Finally, LeBron and AD only gave up Game 3 to the Nuggets in 2020. Furthermore, the Lakers are 3-for-3 on NBA titles when beating the Nuggets in the Conference Finals. However, 2023 is new territory for the team, as they have never trailed the Nuggets in the Conference Finals. Do you agree with Shaq? Let us know in the comments. Be sure to make HotNewHipHop your #1 stop for all the latest news about the NBA playoffs.
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A new bid to acquire the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network has emerged, as 50 Cent, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenya Barris have joined forces with Group Black, CVC Capital Partners, and Authentic Brands Groups. They are now competing against Tyler Perry, Diddy, and Byron Allen in the race to acquire BET. Updated By: Chris Samuel […]
The post 50 Cent, Shaquille O’Neal & Kenya Barris Join Bid To Buy BET Networks appeared first on SOHH.com.
The race to buy the BET Network has been fast and fierce. Last month, Tyler Perry said to buy as much of the network as he could. Meanwhile, other prominent bids have been submitted by Byron Allen, the Travis Montaque-led Group Black, and Diddy. However, Perry and Allen had risen to the forefront of the bidding war. Perry has worked with the BET Network for many years now.
The BET Network was founded in 1980 by Robert L. Johnson, a former cable lobbyist. The aim was to create a television network that catered to the blossoming Black television consumer base. In 2001, Viacom purchased BET Network. At the time, the network was sold for $3 billion. The BET Network has become the foremost network for Black-centric content, both scripted and unscripted.
However, a new bid has reportedly emerged to buy the network. 50 Cent, Shaq, and television mogul Kenya Barris have reportedly launched a joint bid. This was seemingly confirmed by TMZ spotting the trio outside of Paramount headquarters this week. The bid is reportedly being financed by investment firm CVC. What’s more, the bid is allegedly now the frontrunner to buy the network. “It’s not a done deal, but they’re deep in it,” a source told TMZ. They could threaten the bids of Perry and Allen. Perry especially seemed like a prominent bidder, especially given his long-standing relationship with the network herself.
The three figureheads of the bid are all having something of a renaissance. 50 Cent recently announced a global tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of “Get Rich Or Die Trying”. Shaq is making music again. Meanwhile, Barris directed the Netflix comedy You People and penned the remake of White Men Can’t Jump on Hulu. They have not officially announced their bid, nor has Paramount made a statement. Despite this, it would still fulfill Perry’s desire to see the BET Network retain Black ownership. However, any updates on the situation will be here on HotNewHipHop.
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Did you know that Shaq is platinum-certified? Did you know that Shaq rapped? Shaquille O’Neal is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But he also released four studio albums between 1993 and 1998. His first album, Shaq Diesel, peaked at #25 and is certified platinum. Meanwhile, his second, Shaq Fu: Da Return peaked at #67 and was certified gold. Shaq’s third and fourth albums, You Can’t Stop The Reign and Respect peaked at #82 and #56 respectively.
However, Shaq’s music career was not just limited to the 90s. Shaq’s last single, “Welcome to the Playhouse ft. Steve Aoki and DJ Diesel” was released in 2022. He also featured on “King Talk” featuring Blackway and Koko, which was released as an “anthem” for the 2023 NBA playoffs. But Shaq’s not done with the music. And fans on TikTok get a first look at this next musical project.
@shaq Lil Freestyle for y’all. Never would i have thought DJing would get me here!! But when it’s your time, it’s YOUR TIME. Im beyond grateful
Thotties Hit The Floor (MONSTER MASHUP) ft. Me, Lex Bratcher, Scar Lip
Posting to TikTok on May 4, Shaq revealed that he also had a freestyle coming out in the new future. The video features Shaq rapping over nu-metal classic “Bodies”. It’s a wholly bizarre experience, with Shaq dropping bars over the iconic screaming Dave Williams.
So what are some of Shaq’s best bars in “Thotties Hit The Floor”? And yes, that’s the name of the song. Here are some of our favorites:
You know I don’t stop, three-peat
I get lost when I go for a nap, I don’t get lost when I go for the stacks
I know the bitch so I know the DeNiro like I know the pound, the yen, and the euro
Shaq, Thotties Hit The Floor
The TikTok primarily features Shaq driving a clearly-CGI semi-truck. However, there are also shots of Shaq rapping in a multi-colored void and appearing on several TV sets. The whole thing goes hard and is wonderfully weird. “Thotties Hit The Floor” is set to debut at some point in 2023.
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