Shaquille O'Neal wants people to stop treating rumor mill content like gospel. On the March 20 episode of his podcast, he read a set of clearly fabricated direct messages that had been circulating and made it plain: those texts were fake.

He read the fake DMs so we did not have to

The 54-year-old took a minute to laugh through the ridiculous messages people were sharing. He quoted the line that claimed he said he'd "keep your farts in a cologne bottle and spray it on me every day," then read an even more over-the-top message about landing someone in the hospital. His summary: the whole thing was nonsense.

Shaq also joked about his own persona, saying the "Diesel" has more game than what those messages suggested. Then he pinned the stunt on "youngsters" who are focused on "the algorithm and going viral" rather than facts.

Not his first time shutting down rumors

This was not the only time Shaq has had to deny gossip about his love life. In October, reports surfaced after he was seen at a Las Vegas club with a 21-year-old model named Sophie Rain. Shaq replied in comments that he does not date that young, adding he might "date your mom and give u a brother." He also said he had been DJing at the venue when she attended his party and told people to stop creating stories.

For context, Shaq is a father to several children: Taahirah, 29, with Arnetta Yardbourgh; and Myles, 28; Shareef, 26; Amirah, 24; Shaqir, 22; and Me'arah, 19, with his ex-wife Shaunie Henderson. He made it clear he does not appreciate fake messages being pasted onto his name.

Celebrities who shrug off age-gap talk

While Shaq is busy correcting false DMs, lots of other famous people have been dealing with public interest in their age differences. Here are a few who have answered critics on their own terms.

  • Sarah Paulson & Holland Taylor

    Paulson said if people want to call her strange for loving Holland, that is their problem. She made it clear she is happy and not focused on outside opinions.

  • Heidi Klum & Tom Kaulitz

    Heidi said questions about her 16-year age gap do come up, but she does not dwell on them and prefers to live her life without overthinking critics.

  • Priyanka Chopra & Nick Jonas

    Priyanka has pointed out a double standard: people criticized their 10-year gap more than they would if the man were older.

  • Sam Taylor-Johnson & Aaron Taylor-Johnson

    Sam said the age difference rarely matters day to day. After many years together, she said the gap feels less relevant.

  • Michael Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones

    Catherine has acknowledged the 25-year gap and emphasized that love and respect are what keep a relationship steady.

  • Dennis Quaid & Laura Savoie

    Dennis said he and Laura do not notice the nearly 40-year difference and called their relationship strong and surprising in a good way.

  • Hilaria Baldwin & Alec Baldwin

    Hilaria admitted she used to judge big age gaps, but her views changed after being in that kind of relationship herself.

  • Felicity Blunt & Stanley Tucci

    Stanley admitted he worried about feeling old early on but said he recognized she was someone special.

  • Oli Green & Sienna Miller

    They acknowledged their 15-year gap may be hard for some to understand, but both said the relationship brings them joy and that outside opinions are not decisive.

  • Jeff Goldblum & Emilie Livingston

    Goldblum shared light moments about cultural differences but said their life together is going well despite the 30-year gap.

  • Rosie Huntington-Whiteley & Jason Statham

    Rosie has said the connection they share goes beyond age and that having a supportive partner matters more than numbers.

  • Katharine McPhee & David Foster

    Katharine said initial judgment is understandable but that relationships often differ from first impressions and she is happy with their story.

  • Kristin Cavallari & Mark Estes

    Kristin defended dating a younger man as not something she planned for; she later said the relationship ended because of differences in life stage and that he might benefit from more time to grow.

  • Amal & George Clooney

    George admitted he worried Amal might see him as much older at first, but their relationship developed and they married in 2014.

  • Nick Viall & Natalie Joy

    Nick commented that when people talk about age gaps, appearance still plays a role in reactions, implying public perception is complicated.

Bottom line: Shaq wants people to stop inventing DMs and online fame hunters want clicks. Meanwhile, many public figures keep living their lives and answering questions about age gaps on their own terms.