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While Charles Barkley loves calling Shaquille O’Neal “Mr. Sensitive,” the big man insists otherwise. And now, he’s putting that claim to the ultimate test. Inspired by The Roast of Tom Brady, where Nikki Glaser delivered some of the night’s most brutal jokes, Shaq has his sights set on being her next target.

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After watching Brady take hit after hit, Shaq made up his mind—he wants in. Speaking to Page Six, he made his intentions clear: “Me. Roast me. ‘Cause I don’t get sensitive. And that girl that killed Tom Brady — I want her. What’s her name?”

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Once reminded of Glaser’s name, Shaq didn’t hesitate. Looking straight into the camera, he laid down the challenge: “Nikki, you can say whatever you want about me, my mama, my kids. Let’s do it.” He doubled down, emphasizing, “Yeah, me. ‘Cause I don’t get sensitive. I like to laugh. I think Tom got a little [offended] with some of the jokes, but I can take it all.”

Fresh off hosting the Golden Globes, Glaser has a long track record of taking down A-listers. She’s roasted Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin, and Rob Lowe, but her Brady takedown might be her best work yet. So if Shaq thinks he’s unshakable, he might want to think again.

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Even Shaq admitted Brady was “surprised” by Glaser’s jokes. And who wouldn’t be? She hit him with lines like, “You retired, then came back, then retired. I get it. It’s hard to walk away from something that isn’t your pregnant girlfriend.”

That wasn’t all—his divorce from Gisele Bündchen and her romance with Joaquim Valente also emerged as juicy targets. Shaq might be laughing now, but if Glaser takes the mic, he could be in for a reality check. Just ask Charles Barkley.

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Charles Barkley and “Mr. Sensitive” Shaq story

Shaquille O’Neal loves to say he can handle the heat, but Charles Barkley would beg to differ. Once, Shaq got so mad at Chuck for interrupting him that he threatened to throw a can at him. That’s when Barkley gave him the infamous nickname—Mr. Sensitive. And it didn’t stop there. Behind the scenes, Shaq took things to another level, shutting out his friends for a full day and a half. “One of the great stories in Inside history,” Barkley recalled. “Shaq was so mad he didn’t speak to us the rest of the night or the next day, and he was really mad.”

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So what exactly happened? During the filming of The Inside Story, a documentary on Inside the NBA, Ernie Johnson asked the panelists to speak for three minutes each. Barkley spoke first, then Kenny Smith, and finally, it was Shaq’s turn. But before he could get a word in, Barkley cut him off.

That was all it took. Shaquille O’Neal was furious. Instead of arguing, he simply said, “It’s supposed to be one, two, three. Not one, two, back to one.” Then, he refused to say anything else. Off-camera, he stayed mad for an entire day—especially since the rest of the panel couldn’t stop laughing at his reaction. According to Barkley, an angry Shaq is never a good sign.

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“I had to let it go… Cause once he flips the switch to mad, anything can happen,” Chuck admitted. “I will tell you this about Shaq—Shaq is very sensitive.” So while Shaq insists he can handle Nikki Glaser’s roast, his track record suggests otherwise. Will he take it in stride, or will Mr. Sensitive make another appearance?

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Pritish Ganguly

2,241 Articles

Pritish Ganguly is an NFL writer at EssentiallySports, recognized for his ability to highlight the league’s emerging talent by breaking down rookie performances, draft picks, and key matchups with sharp, insightful analysis. With a Master’s degree in Journalism and Communication, he brings clarity and depth to his coverage, helping fans understand the nuances of today’s NFL and its rising stars. Beyond writing, Pritish is a multifaceted content creator, proficient in sports photography, scriptwriting, and video editing. He uses these skills to produce engaging NFL stories that resonate with a wide audience. His analytical approach and creative storytelling combine to deliver comprehensive coverage of the league’s talent and trends.

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Amal Joyce

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