SHAQUILLE O'NEAL has fired back at claims he was shooting his shot with a viral social media star.
Ariana Cossie has become an internet sensation, known also as the Home Depot Girl.
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This came after a shot of her working her day job went viral, with fans swiftly swooning over the stunning Houstonian.
One such fan took to Instagram where they dubbed her: "Ariana, princess of home depot"
"The kids need to see that you can be pretty, educated and work a real job!!" another said, adding: "u go girl"
One person said the woman: "Inspired me to apply for my local home depot"
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In response to the relentless comments, NBA legend O'Neal messaged Cossie with some words of wisdom.
"don't let them people bother u," he said, to which she responded: "Thank you Shaq!"
O'Neal went on to add: "Have a great day tell all your boyfriends i said hello lol."
Cossie later shared a screenshot of the messages on her Instagram story, along with the caption: "When Shaq text you know you doing something right okay!"
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O'Neal's messages led some followers to claim he was flirting with the social media star.
These allegations came just days after he was spotted with fellow social media star Brittany Renner, 31, who reportedly has a child with 24-year-old Charlotte Hornets star P.J. Washington, per Essentially Sports.
But according to a report from TMZ Sports, Renner and O'Neal's relationship is "strictly platonic."
When it came to the accusations regarding Cossie, O'Neal wasn't afraid to tackle them head-on, taking to Instagram to comment: "Just uplifting people that’s what the diesel do baby i uplift people google me"
O'Neal is known for his random acts of kindness.
In April, he had Reebok send a high schooler custom shoes after the fourteen-year-old struggled to a size 23.
The kid in question, Eric Kilburn Jr., was left "in shoe heaven" by Reebok and O'Neal's kind gesture, according to the boy's mother Rebecca's Facebook post.
She wrote: "Reebok and Shaquille (yes Shaq!!! SO cool!!) had reached out saying that they would like to help Eric be more comfortable while he is waiting for his custom shoes, and that they had a few pairs of 22s made for Shaq in their inventory that they would like to send to Eric.
"The package just arrived and he is in shoe heaven!
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"I quote: 'Mom, I don't remember getting to ever choose what I wanted to wear like this before, there's so many options!'
"WOW. My heart is overflowing seeing the joy on his face....God is good, and so is Reebok!!"
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