Shaquille O’Neal Attempts an Australian Accent and Twitter Had Fun with It

In a post-game interview with Utah Jazz player (and Australian-born) Joe Ingles on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” from Apr. 23, co-host Shaquille O’Neal tried connecting with Ingles’ home roots using an Australian accent and opened with “Joe, hello mate. This is Shaq.”

At the conclusion of the interview, O’Neal attempted the accent again and uttered the term “shrimp on the barbie” as well as singing from the famous Men at Work hit “I come from a land down under.”

The segment led to many humorous reactions to Shaq on Twitter:

HELLO MATE. THIS IS SHAQ 😭😭

— Shallow Hal (@OGJohnLee) April 24, 2018

What is Shaq doing ? @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/dMYTed9ZzN

— Arpan (@_arpandixit) April 24, 2018

@NBAonTNT Shaq is more bootleg Australian than "Outback Steakhouse" pic.twitter.com/UCf7mxdnZ4

— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) April 24, 2018

Australia’s response to Shaq’s accent. #NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/UAgaKCP9mu

— Dean Lamb (@DeanWLamb) April 24, 2018

Did I hear a “shimmer me timbers mate” @SHAQ @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/xab3XifMq8

— Deputy Commish Moo (@AleMoo30) April 24, 2018

Not sure what kind of master and commander @SHAQ would make after throwing out 'Shimmer me timbers.' @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/IC1PxbppFa

— Paintboxer (@Paintboxer) April 24, 2018

@SHAQ That's a koalaty Aussie accent, mate. @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/ajOeKSDonY

— Paul Mesui Tavake (@Paulsicles) April 24, 2018