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Shaquille O'Neal pranks Charles Barkley by dropping massive alligator onto TNT set

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•01/07/25
TNT
Screenshot of TNT American Express Halftime Show

The set of TNT’s American Express Halftime Show can get pretty wild, with Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley providing quite the contrast. On Tuesday, one member of the dynamic duo played a hilarious prank on the other.

The setup seemed to involve the entire panel of the show.

“You know what it reminds me of?” O’Neal began, starting the elaborate setup. “What’s he drinking in his cup?”

Barkley seemed mildly confused, answering ‘Diet Coke.’ Then Kenny Smith stepped in to help the bit along.

“Who coaches your daughter?” Smith asked O’Neal.

“Oh yeah, Florida Gators,” O’Neal said. “Yeah, Florida Gators.”

There was a long pause… then the prank materialized. You have to see it yourself below.

The crew then sang the Jaws theme song that accompanies the Gator chomp as Smith flapped the large alligator’s jaws in front of Barkley. The crew even played a slow-motion replay of the drop, much to Barkley’s dismay.

A unique prank, to say the least.

As for the setup, O’Neal’s daughter is a freshman at Florida. Me’Arah O’Neal has played quite a bit for the Gators this season.

The 6-foot-4 combo guard and forward from Houston has started eight of 15 games this season, averaging 14.7 minutes per contest. During that time of the floor she is averaging 5.1 points and 4.3 rebounds, to go along with 10 assists, nine blocks and eight steals.

The Florida women’s basketball team is currently 10-6 on the season, as well as 1-1 in SEC play. Florida has won three of its last four games.

Though Me’Arah O’Neal is just getting her college career started, she obviously carries some significant name recognition. Her current NIL valuation is estimated at $141,000.

O’Neal carries a large social media following, too — about 208,000 on Instagram, 101,000 on TikTok and 2,100 on Twitter.