Shaq Helps Disabled Woman With Groceries, Next Day He Receives New That Changes His Life
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It was a sunny afternoon in downtown Los Angeles when Shaquille O’Neal, the legendary NBA star known as Shaq, pulled into a Whole Foods parking lot. At 7’1”, Shaq’s larger-than-life presence was impossible to miss as he stepped out of his sleek Mercedes, drawing curious whispers and admiring glances from passersby. He adjusted his tailored suit jacket and glanced at his phone—three missed calls from his business manager and a text about another investment opportunity. At 51, Shaq had built an empire beyond basketball, yet he felt a nagging need to make a deeper impact.
As he approached the store, Shaq’s attention was drawn to a scene near the entrance: an elderly woman in a wheelchair struggling to manage several grocery bags. Her silver hair was neatly pinned back, and she carried herself with dignity despite her struggles. Without hesitation, Shaq walked over, his deep voice calling out warmly, “Ma’am, let the Diesel help you with those bags.”
The woman, Margaret Wheeler, looked up in astonishment. “Oh my goodness, you’re Shaquille O’Neal! My late husband and I used to watch all your games. But please, I don’t want to trouble you.”
“Trouble? No way,” Shaq replied with his signature grin, effortlessly gathering the bags. He offered to push her wheelchair and asked where she lived. Margaret gestured down the street to a senior apartment complex. She explained that her daughter, who usually helped her, was sick that day. Shaq assured her, “Then the Sha Express is at your service.”
As they walked, Margaret shared her story. She had been a physical education teacher for 30 years, inspiring kids to love sports. A car accident had left her wheelchair-bound five years ago, but she refused to let it define her. She spoke proudly of her late husband, Harry, and how they had cheered for Shaq’s games from their living room.
The two chatted about basketball, family, and life. Shaq, with his playful humor, kept her laughing as they strolled down the sidewalk. What neither of them noticed was the small crowd forming at a distance, capturing the moment on their phones.
When they reached Margaret’s modest apartment, she insisted on offering him money for his help. Shaq shook his head, smiling. “My mama would kill me if I took money for helping someone in need.” Instead, he helped put away her groceries, ensuring everything was within her reach.
Before he left, Margaret mentioned her daughter’s small medical supply company, Wheeler Medical Supplies. She handed him a catalog, explaining how they aimed to create affordable, user-friendly equipment. “It’s tough competing with the big corporations,” she said, “but my daughter is brilliant. She designs much of the equipment herself.”
Shaq flipped through the catalog, intrigued by the thoughtful designs. It struck a chord with him, reminding him of his sister’s struggles with medical equipment after her accident.
The next morning, Shaq’s phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. On the other end was Sarah Wheeler, Margaret’s daughter. “Mr. O’Neal,” she began, “thank you for helping my mother yesterday. She hasn’t stopped talking about you. I also saw the videos of your kindness—it reminded me of something she mentioned. You’re considering investing in medical supply companies?”
Shaq confirmed, and Sarah quickly pitched her company. She explained how they focused on innovative designs and affordability, often refusing buyout offers from larger corporations to maintain their values. Shaq agreed to visit their office.
The next day, Shaq walked into Wheeler Medical Supplies and was immediately impressed. The showroom was warm and welcoming, unlike the sterile environments of most medical supply stores. It featured accessible layouts, natural light, and real-world testing areas for equipment.
Sarah gave him a tour, showing him their patents, including a lightweight adjustable wheelchair designed for evolving user needs. “We’re not just about profits,” she said passionately. “We’re about dignity and independence for our customers.”
Shaq asked thoughtful questions, taking in every detail. By the end of the visit, he was convinced this was the kind of investment he had been seeking—one that combined business with meaningful impact. “I’m in,” he said, “but on one condition.”
“What’s that?” Sarah asked, her eyes filled with hope.
“We create a program to provide free or reduced-cost equipment for families in need,” Shaq replied, “and we call it the Margaret Wheeler Initiative.”
Margaret, who had arrived at the office by then, beamed with pride. “I told Sarah you were different,” she said.
Within months, Wheeler Medical Supplies expanded nationwide, thanks to Shaq’s investment and expertise. The Margaret Wheeler Initiative helped thousands of families access quality medical equipment they couldn’t otherwise afford. Shaq used his celebrity status to raise awareness about accessibility issues, bringing attention to the importance of affordable medical supplies.
The success of Wheeler Medical Supplies sparked change across the industry, inspiring other companies to adopt similar programs. What began as a simple act of kindness in a parking lot became a movement that transformed lives and reshaped an industry.
For Shaq, the experience reinforced a lesson from his childhood: true strength isn’t just about personal success but about using your gifts to uplift others. Every time he visited Los Angeles, he made a point to personally deliver groceries to Margaret, often bringing fellow NBA stars along to help.
The “Sha Express,” as Margaret fondly called it, became a symbol of hope and community. Through his actions, Shaq proved that small moments of kindness can create ripple effects far beyond what anyone might imagine, changing not just individual lives but entire communities.
Story of Shaq Being Confronted By Racist 90-Year-Old Woman Is Fiction
This rumor about the former NBA star is one of the latest fictional stories drawn up using artificial intelligence.
Image courtesy of Max Story/YouTube
A rumor circulating online in January 2025 claimed that a racist 90-year-old white woman named Margaret confronted former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal in a supermarket and told him to “go back to Africa.”
For example, several Facebook posts told the story, which originated from various YouTube videos. One such video posted by the Max Story YouTube channel on Dec. 30, 2024, displayed the title “A 90-Year-Old Racist Woman Tells Big Shaq, ‘Go Back to Africa’ — His Response Stuns the Crowd.”
In the video, a narrator claimed the elderly white woman accused a person referenced as “Big Shaq” of blocking a supermarket aisle. She allegedly said to him: “These days, they let anyone into supermarkets. The staff must not care.” She added: “Throw him out. People like him don’t belong here. Send him back to Africa.” Then, “Big Shaq” supposedly explained how her words hurt him. The woman responded: “I’m sorry. Thank you for teaching me such a valuable lesson today. You are truly a remarkable person,” ending the video with an inspirational tone.
However, the entire story was fiction. According to a Google search, no news media outlet reported on the alleged incident. Additionally, the video’s narrator never mentioned when or where the purported confrontation occurred, the name of the alleged supermarket nor O’Neal’s full name (the video just referenced “Big Shaq.”) The video’s thumbnail image depicted O’Neal, but the first two minutes of the clip showed a completely different person.
A man who appears in the first two minutes of the video does not resemble O’Neal.
The video displayed the YouTube-provided label for “altered or synthetic content,” a disclaimer to tell viewers that the clip features narration, scripting, editing and visuals generated by artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
Further, on Dec. 15, 2024, the Black Struggles YouTube channel published a very similar video titled “Racist Woman Tells Black Man ‘Go Back to Africa’ — His Response Leaves the Crowd Speechless!” The clip also features AI-generated elements, including a narrator telling virtually the same story about a racist woman supposedly confronting a Black man in a supermarket. In that video, the narrator calls the man “Darrell,” not “Big Shaq.” The clip has received nearly 600,000 views as of this writing.
Comments under both videos indicate that some users believe the incidents truly occurred and that the videos’ message inspired people. For example, under the video from the Black Struggles YouTube channel, one user wrote: “Wonderful story to remind people to question the hate they have been taught.”
We have previously reported on similar YouTube videos about O’Neal; clips that also share made-up stories and use elements generated by AI. For example, one such false story claimed that a 5-year-old boy approached O’Neal at a Los Angeles diner to tell him about his father abusing his mother.
