Via Fansided:
According to O’Neal, he visited the zoo for the first time while traveling to a game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks.
“So we go in there, and it’s a beautiful place, and the character that was there was Exotic Joe. We’re there and I dropped some donations for the tigers’ foods and all that. We take pictures with [the] tigers. We went back a couple times.
“Then we go back another time and we found out that he’s involved with all the stuff, and then, actually, I stopped going.”
After an Instagram picture of Shaq and Maldonado from 2014 resurfaced, O’Neal also clarified his relationship with the Joe Exotic, distancing himself from the convict and the poor treatment of tigers in general.
“I don’t harm tigers. I love tigers. I love white tigers. Do I put donations to these zoos to help these tigers out? I do it all the time. Do I own tigers personally at my house? No. But I love tigers. Listen, people are going to make their own opinions, but, again, I was just a visitor. I met this guy — not my friend. Don’t know him. Never had any business dealings with him, and I had no idea any of that stuff was going on.”
What is he supposed to say, ‘I knew the guy was bad and I helped fund his illegal activity?’
Want More From Sports Gossip?
For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
