What Conspiracy Theory Cost Shaq a $20M Deal?

Words have power, and Shaq learned this the hard way when his claim that the Earth is flat cost him a $20 million deal. On September 4, during a podcast called “GOAT Time,” Shaq and his son Myles O’Neal were having a friendly exchange about sports when the conversation took a detour as Shaq revealed to his son that he lost $20 million over a joke about being a flat-earther. SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 24: Shaquille O’Neal attends the 2019 NBA Awards at Barker Hangar on June 24, 2019 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images) Is The Earth Round? “I said the Earth was flat one time and I lost a f–ing big deal on that. …& Big deal like $20 million,”& Shaq replied. He’s said he received more than half a million hate emails from people who genuinely believed the Hall of Fame NBA star was serious about the conspiracy theory. The reaaction caught him off guard, leading to an unspecified partnership backing out of a $20 million deal. Shaq, known for his playful personality, often stirs up mild controversy for fun. Part of that mild fun was piggybacking off a controversial take& made& by...