Opinion | Australian PM’s move to enlist ex-NBA star Shaq O’Neal for indigenous campaign a strange one
- The basketballer will be a part of the government’s campaign to change the constitution, recording a 15-second advertisement for free
- Indigenous politicians from across the political spectrum have illustrated the complexity of this issue in Australia and the unsuitability of O’Neal as a commentator on it
On Saturday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met America’s former NBA star and current TV personality Shaquille O’Neal in Sydney to enlist the sport star’s support for constitutional recognition for an Indigenous voice. O’Neal voiced his support for changes to the Australian Constitution, but is his voice the right one?
The prime minister claimed O’Neal reached out to him because “he wanted to inform himself about what this debate was about”.
Now O’Neal will be a part of the government’s campaign to change the constitution, recording a 15-second advertisement for free. He is meant to be the first of many stars, including unnamed players in the AFL, NRL basketball and netball organisations, to offer their public support for an Indigenous Voice to parliament.
For many, the selection of “Shaq” as a spokesperson for the Indigenous Voice to parliament is a strange one. O’Neal is well-known for his viral and sometimes problematic performances on and off the court.
During his NBA career, O’Neal built a reputation as an overpowering post presence and a savvy media jokester. In his current job as a sports analyst on the popular television show Inside the NBA, he hosts a popular segment known as “Shaq’tin A Fool”, which features bloopers from recent games.
He has made some foolish decisions himself over the years: his feud with Kobe Bryant filled the tabloids for years, the film Kazaam was a ratings failure, and he has made and apologised for a range of racist or possibly homophobic comments.
Most Americans see O’Neal as a charismatic, even playful, person rather than as an engaged athlete activist. The prime minister claimed O’Neal had done great work in the US around “social justice and lifting people up who are marginalised” but has not followed up those comments with any specifics.
