Shaquille O’Neal Says He Refuses To Call Himself A Celebrity, Here’s Why
Shaquille O'Neal, in a recent interview with PEOPLE, expressed his refusal to label himself as a celebrity. Despite earning the nickname Shaq, the former basketball player emphasized that he does not see himself on the same level as others who are equally well-known.
O'Neal, 51, revealed in the interview that he distanced himself from the "celebrity" label because — in his view — celebrities can be difficult individuals. The NBA Hall of Famer expressed his reluctance to be categorized among celebrities, stating that many people in that status tend to believe they are smarter, better, and bigger than others.
"You know why I had to denounce myself from being a celebrity about six, seven years ago? Celebrities are a******s. They just are. I never want to be in that category," he said to the outlet.
Continuing his perspective, O'Neal admitted how he has never traveled with an entourage or flaunted his wealth through flashy displays like expensive jewelry. He expressed a desire to avoid becoming that kind of person, recalling a specific incident where he did so and his mother strongly disapproved, using words he hadn't heard from her in a long time.
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The four-time NBA champion further elaborated on the incident, describing how his mother visited his house and showed him footage of the time she felt he had acted out. Without specifying the exact moment, O'Neal shared that his mother asked him, "How do you think that looks?" to which he admitted, "That looks stupid." She then advised him that such behavior was unnecessary, emphasizing that he didn't need to engage in extravagant displays.
"I have to do regular people's stuff because I'm a regular person," he said. Being a "regular person" for O'Neal also involves being honest about various aspects of life, as demonstrated when he openly discussed his 55-pound weight loss back in September.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, the businessman opened up about his recent weight loss and shared his "crazy goals" for himself. He admitted to changing his lifestyle after realizing that he couldn't "walk up the stairs."
Feeling dissatisfied with his appearance, he set out with the initial goal of losing 20 pounds, but as he progressed, he found himself aiming for even more significant weight loss.
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Shaquille O'Neal, who initially weighed 406 pounds at the start of his weight loss journey, shared that he began by incorporating exercise into his routine. The Los Angeles Lakers legend then made changes to his eating habits. O'Neal revealed his current goal is to weigh "between 315 and 330 pounds," a range he associates with his weight during the time he helped lead the Miami Heat to their first NBA title in 2006.
