Posted Jan 15th 2010 12:52PM by TMZ Staff
Shaquille O'Neal has some unfinished business in Arizona where some dude in the desert is trying to stake claim to the legendary "Shaqtus" ... a mystical plant indigenous to Florida, Arizona, Southern California and Ohio.
A legal war is raging over the nickname Shaq earned during his days playing for the Phoenix Suns -- The Shaqtus.
According to a lawsuit filed in Las Vegas, Shaq claims a random businessman beat him to the punch in registering for the Shaqtus trademark -- and it's causing a serious problem for Shaq's business.
In the lawsuit, filed by a company run by Shaq, the basketball star claims the businessman tried to shut down Shaq's hilarious ESPN commercial, in which he goes to the desert, finds the Shaqtus, and refuses to let anyone else touch it.
ESPN blew the guy off -- but now Shaq is looking to take back full control of the Shaqtus trademark.
But according to the suit, the businessman isn't going down without a fight -- arguing that Shaq consented to his use of the Shaqtus because Shaq once took a photo with a guy and autographed a shirt for him.
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack
Tags: lawsuit, shaqtus, shaquille o neal, ShaquilleONeal, sued, sues
Posted Jan 13th 2010 11:39AM by TMZ Staff
Vanessa Lopez has filed her harassment lawsuit against Shaquille O'Neal in Florida, in which she claims a menacing O'Neal sent a text message to a friend, saying, "dis is da numba shut dat bitch up!"
In the lawsuit, Lopez -- who claims to have been in a five-year relationship with Shaq -- says it went sour after Lopez missed her period and Shaq allegedly reacted by accusing her of sleeping with another guy.
Lopez says she ended the relationship, but then Shaq's large family -- and we're talkin' height -- got involved, making her fear for her safety. Lopez claims Shaq's 6'6" and 6'8" sisters made verbal and physical threats against her.
Lopez claims she was especially fearful of Shaq because "O'Neal is a large, powerful, wealthy man and a professional athlete" who has law enforcement connections and the right to bear arms.
And, Lopez claims, Shaq hacked into her voice mail and text messages, using sophisticated software.
As we first reported, Lopez has had run-ins with three other NBA boyfriends.
Lopez, who is repped by Gloria Allred, is suing for unspecified damages.
Story developing...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Shaq Attack, Exclusives
Tags: basketball, cleveland cavaliers, ClevelandCavaliers, florida, gloria allred, GloriaAllred, harassment, lawsuit, los angeles lakers, LosAngelesLakers, miami heat, MiamiHeat, nba, orlando magic, OrlandoMagic, shaq, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, suit, vanessa lopez, VanessaLopez
Posted Jan 13th 2010 7:00AM by TMZ Staff
Before she decided to sue Shaquille O'Neal, Vanessa Lopez was accused of being the worst NBA one-night stand ever -- after Kenyon Martin accused her of going through his wallet post-hookup.
According to a 2007 police report filed in Colorado, Martin -- a former #1 pick -- claimed that Lopez got into his wallet without permission and used his credit card to buy $6485.90 worth of clothes on couturecandy.com.
Martin's bank notified him of the fraudulent charges when they noticed an incorrect billing address was being used for the purchases.
According to the docs, the case was cracked because the perp shipped all the merch to a "Vanessa Lopez" in Florida .
Sources tell TMZ, Martin never pressed charges on Vanessa because his credit card company repaired the damage.
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack, Exclusives
Tags: denver nuggets, DenverNuggets, fraud, kenyon martin, KenyonMartin, nba, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, vanessa lopez, VanessaLopez, wallet
Posted Jan 12th 2010 2:42PM by TMZ Staff
Gloria Allred just announced the woman accusing Shaquille O'Neal of harassment is filing a lawsuit against him in Florida.
Shaq's accuser, Vanessa Lopez, claims she was in a relationship with Shaq for five years ... and that Shaq, who's married, told her he had an "open relationship." Lopez also claimed that she once told Shaq that she believed she was pregnant with his child.
Lopez claims Shaq repeatedly harassed her when she tried to break it off with him. Lopez says she "fears that someone is after her ... I want to feel safe again."
As we first reported, this isn't Lopez's first rodeo ... she's also had run-ins with NBA stars Delonte West, Kenyon Martin and J.J. Redick.
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack
Tags: gloria allred, GloriaAllred, shaq, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, vanessa lopez, VanessaLopez
Posted Jan 7th 2010 8:44AM by TMZ Staff
The woman accusing Shaquille O'Neal of carrying out a campaign of harassment against her has had major issues with at least two other NBA players in the past, TMZ has learned.
According to several police reports, Vanessa Lopez has had serious legal run-ins with Denver Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West -- during the same time period she claims she was secretly hooking up with Shaq.
Back in 2006, Delonte West -- then with the Boston Celtics -- called security on Lopez, claiming she refused to leave his Orlando hotel room.
Police were called to the room -- where Lopez, according to the police report, then accused West of making unwanted sexual advances toward her.
West acknowledged that he had slept with Lopez in the past -- but claimed he never hit on her that night. West said Lopez tried to seduce him -- but he rejected her because he had another woman coming over.
Click here... it's not over yet
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack, Exclusives
Tags: delonte west, DelonteWest, harrassment, kenyon martin, KenyonMartin, nba, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal
Posted Nov 30th 2009 6:42PM by TMZ Staff
Shaquille O'Neal wants to teach his estranged wife Shaunie Nelson a thing or two about getting thrown out. We've learned Shaq is trying to boot Shaunie from the entire court system in California.
Shaunie filed legal papers in California earlier this month for legal separation, having moved to L.A. just days earlier.
We've learned Shaq's lawyers filed legal docs, alleging Shaunie has no right to use the California divorce courts because they are residents of Florida.
As we first reported, Shaunie stands to get more spousal support in California.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Shaq Attack, Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Tags: alimony, child support, ChildSupport, divorce, legal separation, LegalSeparation, quash, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, shaunie, shaunie nelson, ShaunieNelson
Posted Nov 26th 2009 12:10AM by TMZ Staff
Shaquille O'Neal gets the 2009 Thanksgiving award for quietly paying for the funeral of a little girl he never met.
Five-year-old Shaniya Davis was raped and murdered earlier this month. The alleged killer is behind bars, as is Shaniya's mother, who is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution.
Shaq was so touched by the story he's footing the funeral bill -- estimated at $4,500.
The Cleveland Cavalier star told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "Being a law enforcement guy that investigates crime against children, I wanted to be able to help in some way."
More than 2,000 people attended Shaniya's funeral last Sunday in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Filed under: Shaq Attack
Tags: cleveland cavaliers, ClevelandCavaliers, funeral, shaniya davis, ShaniyaDavis, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal
Posted Nov 12th 2009 2:40PM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has learned Shaquille O'Neal and now-estranged wife Shaunie made a pilot for a reality TV show -- and while their marriage is falling apart, at least one network is still considering putting the reality show on the air.
Earlier this year, the O'Neals had been pitching out a show called "Love Shaq," based on several family-style reality shows like "Meet the Barkers," "Newlyweds" and "Til Death Do Us Part" -- but unlike those couples, the O'Neal's marriage fell apart before the show ever aired.
TMZ got in contact with A&E, who confirmed they had seen the pilot -- and told us they are still "considering" whether or not to purchase the show. FYI -- the show is obviously not in production at the moment.
But the show could be dead before A&E gets to make a decision -- as we previously reported, Shaunie's already moved out -- pulling their kids out of their Florida school and relocating to L.A.
Filed under: TV, Shaq Attack, Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Tags: AE, divorce, Love Shaq, LoveShaq, reality show, reality tv, RealityShow, RealityTv, Shaquille ONeal, ShaquilleOneal, Shaunie ONeal, ShaunieOneal
Posted Nov 10th 2009 12:40PM by TMZ Staff
Shaquille O'Neal's wife Shaunie has abruptly flown to Los Angeles and filed a petition for legal separation in Los Angeles County Superior Court ... and Shaq's people think it's all about money.
TMZ has learned Shaunie filed legal papers yesterday in L.A., even though the couple lives in Florida. The petition says although Shaunie is filing for legal separation, she intends to file for divorce. She lists "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for separation.
We're told Shaunie pulled her kids out of school in Florida several days ago and they are with her now in L.A.
Why, you ask, would Shaunie cross the country to file in L.A.? Well, a spouse generally does a lot better in the spousal support department here in California. Shaunie is asking for both spousal and child support -- though she did not specify an amount for either.
Shaunie claims in her papers to be a resident of L.A. since November 8, 2009 -- 2 days ago.
The date of separation is listed as 11-9-09. The couple has 4 minor children. Shaunie wants legal and physical custody of all the kids.
They have been married for 6 years, 11 months.
Stay tuned ...
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Shaq Attack, Dirty Divorces, Exclusives
Tags: basketball, divorce, legal separation, LegalSeparation, nba, sepation, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, shauni
Posted Sep 3rd 2009 1:00AM by TMZ Staff
We've seen some real "hands-on" interviews before -- but this one takes the cake.
FOX Sports Radio's "Money" from the "Petros & Money Show" got one of the most memorable birthday surprises we've ever seen last week -- when Shaquille O'Neal literally bent Money over his knees and delivered a b-day behind beating!
And that's no ordinary spank ... Shaq's hand is big enough to hit both cheeks at once.
Filed under: TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack
Tags: birthday, fox sports radio, FoxSportsRadio, money, petros money, PetrosMoney, shaq, shaq vs., shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, ShaqVs., spank, spanking
Posted Aug 27th 2009 8:24AM by TMZ Staff
Shaquille O'Neal thinks he can take on peeps like Michael Phelps and Oscar De La Hoya for his reality show, but we found one thing he definitely can't beat -- a ticket.
TMZ has learned Shaq was ticketed early this morning in Hollywood after officers saw him intentionally stopping his car in the middle of the road in front of a few clubs. O'Neal was cited for impeding traffic and let go.
FYI -- Shaq is a reserve cop ... you'd think he'd know better.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack, Exclusives
Tags: cops, Shaq, shaq vs., Shaquille ONeal, ShaquilleOneal, ShaqVs., ticket
Posted Aug 22nd 2009 12:50AM by TMZ Staff
You know Shaquille O'Neal is frighteningly huge when he makes a human in a giant Snoopy suit look like one those stuffed prizes you win at a carnival.
The human monster visited Knott's Berry Farm amusement park in Buena Park, CA on Thursday -- then Twittered about how being 7'1" sucks sometimes by saying, "i'm at knots berry farms n my butts 2 big 2 fit in da seats on ride. ahhhhhh (dats me yellin)."
In Shaq's world, the sign reads "You have to be this short to ride this ride."
Filed under: Shaq Attack
Tags: shaq, shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal
Posted Aug 19th 2009 10:20AM by TMZ Staff
It was hardly a fair fight -- Shaq is 7'1", 325 lbs, Oscar De La Hoya is 5'10", 154lbs -- but the two strapped on the gloves and threw down in Vegas last night ... and the footage is AWESOME.
During the fight at the Planet Hollywood Hotel, the diminutive boxing champion is clearly holding his own against the behemoth of basketball -- even landing a few shots on the big man's grill.
As the for winner -- we're guessing we're gonna have to tune into that "Shaq Vs." show to find out.
Filed under: TV, TMZ Sports, Shaq Attack
Tags: las vegas, LasVegas, oscar de la hoya, OscarDeLaHoya, planet hollywood, PlanetHollywood, shaq, shaq vs., shaquille oneal, ShaquilleOneal, ShaqVs.
