“I Love You…Why Did You Do This to Me”: Mischievous Shaquille O’Neal’s Expensive Reminder to 9YO Left One Father Helpless

There are some perils of working with Shaquille O’Neal. The notorious prankster won’t lose sleep after stirring some mischief for a friend or two. Unfortunately for Josh Halpern, he’s Big Diesel’s favorite victim. Being the CEO of Big Chicken, Halpern carries the majority of Shaq’s trust to manage his restaurant business. With all that trust comes a healthy dose of ribbing. In case you’ve ever wondered what working with the 2000 NBA MVP would be like, look no further!

While on the ES Fancast, Halpern expressed the agony of being loved by Shaq. The love is mutual but the pain to this dad’s wallet is not.

Shaquille O’Neal put his CEO on the clock

Other bosses set deadlines for managers to meet business goals. Shaquille O’Neal adds deadlines to his employee’s personal life to torment them. That was the reason behind Josh Halpern’s hilarious misery when he revealed a previously unknown anecdote in Shaq-lore. The CEO explained, “He does amazing things for my kids, but does them in a way I’m like ‘Oh my god.” Halpern clutched his face to illustrate his exasperation.

Anyone who knows Big Diesel, knows he’s a Big Softie for kids. He adores the Halpern brood which makes for more than a few stories to share.

This anecdote is from Halpern’s middle son, Jonah’s 9th birthday in February. Shaq filmed a video wishing Jonah on his special day. It was sweet till he went, “Hey Jonah, make sure your dad knows you’re just two years away from the iPhone.”

Josh was like any other parent when the new phone campaign kicks up in the house. “Why? I love you… but why, why did you do this me?” Halpern was left wailing. We don’t think it’s weighing on Shaq’s conscience though.

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The 7’1″ troublemaker has caused Halpern to look over his shoulder for the next two years. “Shaquille said, in two years I get the iPhone,” is Jonah’s new chant. He’s even set the date he gets the latest Apple device on his calendar.

Big Diesel is Big Fun and Big Chicken

Though Halpern is going to have iPhone-related anxiety till his son’s 11th birthday, he takes the jokes like a good sport. That is the fun work culture Shaq brings to Big Chicken.

“He’s always thinking about how could he put a smile on somebody’s face,” the exec said about the four-time NBA star.

Whether it’s through jokes or his childhood meals on the Big Chicken menu, Shaq’s life goal is to make people happy.

That’s not the only time Shaq teased Halpern. The CEO contributed to the scripts of the content on Big Chicken’s website but when Shaq read the options, he pinpointed what Halpern wrote.

Shaq would put him on the spot in a room full of staff. That would be another instance that made Halpern go, “Why did you do this to me?”

This embodies the company’s policy of taking business seriously but not themselves. This is what working with Shaquille O’Neal is like. Where was Shaq when we needed to convince our parents for a new phone?

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