Shaq became the latest current or former NBA star to reveal themselves as a flat Earth truther on a podcast, when he said he thought the world is flat because when he drives from Florida to California it seems flat, and he also finds it ridiculous that China would be below us.
However, on Thursday, Shaq insisted that was all a joke. O’Neal went on “The Art of Charm” podcast with Jordan Harbinger to clarify that he was just messing with all of us after Kyrie Irving had been so adamant in his flat Earth claims at All-Star weekend.
The conversation began with Harbinger asking if this was all a joke or if he really believed it, with Shaq eventually revealing it was all him messing with people.
H: “I have to ask or people are going to be mad as we wrap up here, what’s going on with the flat Earth thing? Are you just messing with everybody with that?”
S: “No, the Earth is flat. Would you like to hear my theory?”
H: “Yeah, tell me about it.”
S: “The first part of the theory is, I’m joking, you idiots. That’s the first part of my theory. [laughs]”
Shaq then went on to explain that he was having fun with the situation, and said we should take him a little less seriously if what he says seems outlandish or ridiculous.
“The second part is, I said jokingly that when I’m in my bus and I drive from Florida to California — which I do every summer — it seems to be flat. When I’m in my plane, and we’re getting ready to land, and I open up the window, and I’m looking at all the land that we’re flying over, it seems to be flat. But, this world we live in, people take things too seriously. But I’m going to give the people answers to my test. Knowing that I’m a funny guy, if something seems controversial or boom, boom, boom, you’ve got to add my funny points on, right? So now, once you add my funny points on, that should eradicate and get rid of all your negative thoughts, right? That’s what you should do when you hear a Shaquille O’Neal statement. OK? You should know that he has funny points right over here, and what did he say? The guy had Boom, boom, boom, add the funny points, you either laugh or you don’t laugh, but don’t take me seriously. When I want you to take me seriously, you will know by the tone of my voice that I’m being serious.”
So, Shaq isn’t a flat Earth truther, he was just joking around and having fun on a podcast with people. The saddest thing about this whole saga is we’re at a point where we actually have to wonder if someone is joking or serious when they talk about the Earth being flat. As for when to know when Shaq’s being serious, he explained that when he’s getting into it with Charles Barkley on TNT, he’s actually mad and not joking.
“You want to see me seriously?” said Shaq. “See me and Charles Barkley going back and forth on TNT. That’s when I’m mad and when I’m serious.”
In summation, Shaq thinks the Earth is round, likes to make jokes but is never joking about being mad at Chuck.
(h/t Ball Don’t Lie)
