Well, the definition of friendship might vary for all of us, but without a thought, most of us might relate to the Shaq-Hart bond! But what makes Kevin Hart and Shaquille O’Neal’s friendship stand out? It’s not just their size difference or the back-and-forth that goes on between them. Shaq and Kevin roasting each other during the All-Star game comes to mind. Hart called Shaq out for dressing like a “p*** director”, while the latter jokingly asked, “And why you get your outfit at KidsRUs?” However, out of all these moments, one particular moment from their past continues to linger in Kevin Hart’s mind. Any guesses?
In Real Husbands of Hollywood, a parody series mixing real-life personalities with scripted chaos, Hart and Shaq shared an unforgettable scene. The show was televised on the $1.6B BET network. Shaq played a cop who pulled Hart over, but things quickly escalated. “Do you know what they gon’ do to you in jail?” Shaq asked before grabbing Hart, bending him over the car, and humping him. It was unscripted, unexpected, and left Hart visibly uncomfortable. Years later, he finally opened up about it.
Kevin Hart recalled how the scene started as a funny idea—Shaq pulling him over as a cop. But things escalated when Shaq got too physical. “He grabbed me and he f****** like throws me over the car He’s like, you don’t know what I can do.” Hart admitted that not everyone improvises the same way. Before he knew it, Shaq had lifted him and pinned him over the car, making the moment awkward.
Feb 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Shaqs OGs general manager Shaquille ONeal talks with Kevin Hart during the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
Hart described how Shaq threw him over the car and started humping him. After the scene was done, he looked at the director in confusion because of what had ‘just’ taken place. However, in his words, “Nobody wanted to say s*** to Shaq”. At the time, Hart just moved on, but now, he knows he’d handle it differently: “I would say something… like, ‘Don’t do that. Stop it.’”
In an interview, Hart admitted feeling powerless at that moment. The scene aired, and everyone moved on as if nothing had happened. Everyone on the set of the show felt awkward about confronting Shaq. Hart, now older and more confident, knows he would handle it differently. “I would say something to Shaq,” he acknowledged. But back then? Silence was the only response.
Shaquille O’Neal’s kindness is as good as his basketball greatness
What makes a true legend? Is it championship rings, records, or something deeper? For Shaquille O’Neal, it’s about giving back to the people. Sure, he dominated the NBA, winning four championships and earning Finals MVP three times. But what truly sets him apart is his heart.
In 2021, Shaq took on a new role as Director of Community Relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office in Georgia. Why? Because he wanted to give back. Recently, he launched the WeNeed2Read Program, encouraging kids to develop a love for reading. Over 500 children showed up for the Read-A-Thon at the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club, proving that when Shaq speaks, people listen.
His goal? To ensure kids have role models and don’t struggle with an education like he once did.
But he’s not stopping there. The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation is working on a massive project with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. This 30,000-square-foot clubhouse will offer academic, social, and tech resources for underserved youth.
Shaq has always been larger than life, but his impact off the court might be even bigger. As he once said, “Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you do repeatedly.” Maybe we all have something to learn from the man who leaves behind a lesson in every move of his.
The post “It Wasn’t Scripted”: $1.6B Network’s Antics Push Kevin Hart to Expose Shaquille O’Neal’s Uncomfortable Act appeared first on EssentiallySports.
