Did NBA Legend Shaquille O'Neal Meet Up With Famous Girl From 'Hawk Tuah' Meme?

Anthony Pasciolla | Jul 1, 2024

Jun 6, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Shaquille O'Neal looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks in game one of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most personality-filled NBA Hall of Famers, Shaquille O'Neal, has seemingly met up with the biggest meme on the Internet.

A video of a woman answering a sexually explicit question during a street interview with an exaggerated spitting noise—“hawk tuah,” as many on social media have dubbed it, blew up on TikTok in recent days. Now, a photo of O'Neal with Hailey Welch (the female from the viral video) is making its rounds on social media.

Ain’t NO WAY Shaq met up with Hawk Tuah girl in Nashville this weekend 😭 pic.twitter.com/QiyMhyHtA0

— Kicks (@kicks) July 1, 2024

O'Neal, known for a plethora of comedic and viral moments, could be stepping out of the spotlight after the 2025 NBA season. Next year is the last for TNT's Inside the NBA, bringing uncertainty to the legend's future on television.

Here's a look at how O'Neal took on an NBA Writer who questioned Michael Jordan's 1988 DPOY Award:

O'Neal defended his friend Jordan Saturday afternoon when he said Yahoo! Sports Tom Haberstroh should stop diminishing the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award Jordan won in 1988.

Earlier this month, Haberstroh revealed Jordan received preferential treatment for home games and the statisticians padded his defensive statistics to make it appear he accomplished more than. Jordan's former teammate, Scottie Pippen, also made the claim in a passage of his book in 2021.

Shaq took exception to Haberstroh's report during a segment of The Big Podcast with Shaq. O'Neal did acknowledge, however, players get the benefit of the doubt more at home on close calls.

"Unconfirmed, did you see them watch the game? I don't believe that. It's unconfirmed and it doesn't matter. Do they give extra love at home? They do. But, it doesn't matter. It's there, it's documented. Let it go, its unconfirmed, whoop de freaking doo," O'Neal said. "You want to impress me, go back and change it. Let it go, it's unconfirmed....What are you gonna do Mr. Statistician face man? What are you gonna do? Now stop it. Let it go."

The allegations are perhaps the only blemish of Jordan's career. He is often considered the greatest player in league history after winning titles in all six of his NBA Finals appearances. Jordan also holds the league's highest scoring average (30.1) and won five regular season MVPs.

Anthony Pasciolla is a contributing writer for Back In The Day NBA. He can be reached at ampasciolla@gmail.com or followed on X @anthonypasci.

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