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[UPDATE] Shaquille O'Neal Is A 9/11 Truther (According To Online Posts He's Deleted)
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 12, 2015
Modified Jun 12, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 12, 2015
Modified Jun 12, 2015
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Shaquille O'Neal wears a lot of hats: Famed pro basketball player and current NBA analyst; rapper; star of Kazaam; deputy city marshal of Lafayette Parish. Now he can add 9/11 conspiracy theorist to the list, as suggested by a posting on his website. Mysteriously, that posting has now...disappeared! Update, 1:40 p.m.: The company that manages Shaq's Facebook page and blog says an employee wrote the post, NOT SHAQ—read the statement below, in which Shaq says, "I am not and never have been a '9/11 truther.'"
Yesterday, the 7'1" former center had an entry on Shaq.com titled, "A CLOSE UP VIDEO WAS DISCOVERED OF 9/11: YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT IT SHOWS!" The entry is now deleted, but thanks to the power of Google Cache, here's what was published along with the video:
September 11, 2001 was one of the worst days in American history. Thousands of lives were lost both in the attacks and after during the war. There’s been talk about how people think that the terrorist attacks that happened that day were an inside job. We hear one thing from the media and government agencies, but are we getting the truth?
There were two impossibilities that occurred in this footage that was close-up of the attacks on the South Tower. The video was slowed down so that you can see it clearly.
Supposedly the materials that the buildings are made of wouldn’t allow a plane to slice through it as cleanly as flight 175 did. The second impossibility is something easily missed, even though you’ve probably seen the replay a million times when it happened. The guy in the video did a screen grab so you can see it perfectly. The way it appeared just wasn’t right.
So what do you think…was September 11 an inside job? Or, was this video tweaked to make us think that it was?
This is the video he embedded:
Deadspin points out this was also promoted on Shaq's Facebook page, but that status update has also disappeared. Shaq—we welcome you to join us on our next visit to a 9/11 Truther Conference. Or maybe you'll be the keynote speaker?
Update: A company called Digital Mavericks takes responsibility for the posting—and his Shaqness is apparently disgusted by the stunt:
Statement from Matt Argall, CEO of Digital Mavericks
Our firm helped manage content for Shaquille O’Neal's Facebook page and blog. Yesterday, one of our employees posted a link on Mr. O’Neal's social media that related to the tragic events of 9/11. Mr. O'Neal had no knowledge of the posting. Further, it does not represent the views of Mr. O’Neal, our clients or our organization. We sincerely apologize. We have removed the link from Mr. O’Neal’s social media and no longer manage social media content for him. We are very sensitive to the tragedy of 9/11 and apologize greatly for this post.
Statement from Shaquille O’Neal
This post was insulting and offensive, and I apologize to everyone who came across it. Once I learned that it was on my Facebook page and blog, I ordered it removed and fired the firm that posted it. I am not and never have been a “9/11 truther.’’ My father served our country and I am immensely proud of the sacrifices people make daily to keep us safe. The events of 9/11 were a horrible tragedy for our nation and it’s a disgrace that anyone would think otherwise.
Still seems mighty convenient...
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Shaquille O'neal
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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