Much like Shaquille O’Neal, his cousin Bill Bellamy too came from humble beginnings. Raised in New Jersey, Bellamy, later a VJ at MTV, started gaining ranks in the industry in the 90s. Herein, he had the opportunity to interview notable names amongst the likes of Tupac, and Kurt Cobain. But there was another that topped the list: Michael Jackson.

On the Mark Jackson show, Bellamy spoke about the time interviewing MJ and the significance of it at the time. “He requested I be the guy on MTV because that moment I was the only African-American host that was getting the upper-level interviews.” He was trying to represent the black hip-hop culture and MTV was widening their horizon since previously they only used to play rock music.

“So Mike had to come through MTV to blow up. Just think that was your Doorway to White America basically,” he says recalling that MJ wasn’t usually up for interviews. It was only after the album HIStory came out, which had his cousin Shaquille O’Neal’s verse too in one of the songs, that Bellamy grabbed his opportunity.

When asked about the feeling of meeting the King of Pop, Bellamy had a humble brag about his cousin. “I’m coming out of Newark, New Jersey, ain’t nobody famous but Shaq.” He later called the moment surreal. More so, with MJ knowing who Bellamy was. “He was like Bill I love what you doing man. You really representing us man. I love it man keep winning you make me laugh.” Bellamy recalls the moment and said he was at the right place and the right time.

Interestingly, there was an instance when Michael Jackson showed up at the wrong time at Shaquille O’Neal’s place and had to take no for an answer.

MJ had an eye on Shaquille O’Neal’s prized possession

The Los Angeles Lakers legend remembers the time when the King of Pop appeared at his doorstep unannounced. However, MJ had a hidden agenda that Shaq came to know later. O’Neal spoke about it on the DrinkChamps episode in 2022, “MJ showed up at my house and tried to buy my house in Orlando. Yeah, he just showed up at the door.”

The mansion had 12 bedrooms, including the Superman bed which could fit 45 people. The property was listed at $28 million but was reportedly sold for less in 2021. However, back then Shaq was adamant about not selling his property. “He looked around the house, he’s like, ‘I want to buy the house’, and I’m like ‘It’s not for sale.'”

Regretfully, in 2020 Shaquille O’Neal admitted he should have sold the house since the King of Pop was offering $25 million. The two’s bond now remains cherished in their collaborative song, 2 Bad.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.