“I’d slap the sh*t out of Tom Brady”: Shaquille O’Neal exposes Tom Brady’s fragile ego over comedy roast limits

Shaquille O’Neal is known as much for his playful personality as he is for his dominance on the basketball court. Whether it’s roasting Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA or supporting up-and-coming comedians, Shaq has always embraced humor. But even as one of the most beloved public figures in sports and entertainment, he has some surprisingly humble views on comedy—and even some criticism for NFL icon Tom Brady.

On a recent episode of The Big Podcast with Shaquille O’Neal, comedian Karlous Miller sparked an honest exchange when he brought up Tom Brady’s reaction to jokes during his Netflix roast. “Ain’t nobody scared of Tom Brady though. I’d slap the sh*t out of Tom Brady,” Miller quipped. Shaq didn’t flinch and agreed, simply saying, “That is true.”
Brady, known for his competitive fire, seemed less enthusiastic about being the butt of certain jokes during the Netflix special The Roast of Tom Brady. While he allowed most of the jabs to fly, he made it clear that jokes involving his children or Robert Kraft’s massage scandal were off-limits. When Jeff Ross crossed that line, Brady reportedly told him, “Don’t say that sh*t again.”

For Shaq, who famously allowed comedians to go all in during the Shaquille O’Neal All-Star Comedy Jam, this kind of sensitivity doesn’t sit well. Shaq has always maintained that “everything is on the table” when it comes to humor, and his own career has proven he lives by that standard.

Though Shaq has helped launch the careers of comedians like Kevin Hart, who rose to fame after headlining Shaq’s 2009 comedy jam, he surprisingly harbors a fear of stand-up himself. During a podcast with comedian Tom Segura, the NBA Hall of Famer confessed, “Comedy scares me, it really does.”
Segura was stunned. “You’re such a showman,” he said, encouraging Shaq to trust his natural sense of humor. While many see him as effortlessly funny, Shaq still views comedy as a vulnerable, high-pressure craft.
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While fans are used to seeing Shaq laughing on the sidelines, one can’t help but wonder—would he ever brave his own roast? Given his thick skin and appreciation for the art form, it might be comedy gold. For now, though, he remains the big man who loves to laugh—but draws the line at picking up a mic himself.