The NBA fan who went viral at a recent Indiana Pacers game has backtracked on calling Shaquille O’Neal ‘a creepy horny uncle’ after an interview about the incident that put her in the spotlight.
The fan, known as Grace, first went viral after cameras caught her seemingly running out of patience with her boyfriend Michael while he was talking to her during a Pacers game.
ESPN’s Inside the NBA tracked the couple down for an interview on their show, where Michael explained they were discussing ‘liberal arts education’ and the future job market of the industry.
But the chat took a turn when NBA legend O’Neal asked Michael if he was planning to propose, adding that he would pay for the engagement ring if he popped the question at that moment.
The couple awkwardly laughed it off but Grace seemed a lot less impressed in a subsequent social media post.
‘Shaq was like a creepy horny uncle trying to embarrass his nephew and I went along with it until the bit got embarrassing and I was like alright chill,’ she wrote on X on Monday, in a now deleted post.
The girl in the viral Pacers fan video deleted a comment mocking Shaquille O’Neal
She described the NBA great as ‘a creepy horny uncle’ after being interviewed by him
Pacers TV had these fans on the broadcast, and she is NOT having it ��
After he finally stops yapping, she says, “that’s you…what the f*** are you talking about?” pic.twitter.com/XdXMC6xhE9
— Alex Golden (@AlexGoldenNBA) April 10, 2026
‘I’m glad my bf got to meet the people whose videos he shows me constantly but God I am ready to be done with Sports people.
‘I have found u generally exhausting and, forgive me for saying so, I mean this respectfully, not smart in the ways that matter to me. TO ME.’
She backtracked after that comment gained ground on social media, deleting the post and then having a second go at clarifying her feelings.
‘I am a private person that has been thrown into the public eye unexpectedly and am doing my best to navigate it with good humor,’ she said.
‘The two of us had a wonderful time on the show- Shaq did absolutely nothing to make us uncomfortable and I do not view him as “creepy” at all.
‘I was attempting a joke about my flustered reaction in the midst of a high pressure situation. We have nothing but admiration and appreciation for the host’s hospitality and the joy they’ve brought us over the years. Go Pacers.’
She first addressed the viral clip Thursday night, sharing it via X and writing, “IM CRYINGGGGGGGG I LOVE MY BOYFRIEND THIS IS JUST HOW WE TALK!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
