Shaq apologizes to man he mocked in Instagram post

[The Straight Story]

DETROIT (AP) — Ex-NBA star Shaquille O'Neal has apologized to a Detroit man with a rare disorder for making fun of his appearance in an online post.

Best known as Shaq, the former professional basketball player announced the apology in a Twitter message Tuesday.

"Made a new friend today when I called and apologized to Jahmel Binion. Great dude," the tweet said.

O'Neal followed up Wednesday with a tweet that said: "Had the opportunity to talk to Jahmel Binion yesterday and apologize about the post on IG!"

O'Neal spokesman Rishi Daulat told The Associated Press on Wednesday that O'Neal personally wrote the tweets. Daulat declined further comment.

Binion has ectodermal dysplasia, which affects his face, teeth and hair. He told MLive.com that he was "confused" when O'Neal posted a picture on Instagram showing him making a face imitating Binion.


http://bigstory.ap.org/article/shaq-apologizes-man-he-mocked-instagram-post

[TeeYiYi]

1. Wow, that is fucked up!...

TYY

[Journeyman]

2. Odd. I never cared for his style of ball, but he always struck me as a man with consummate style...

I only know him superficially, from the limited news and feature articles I've read, but throughout his time in Los Angeles -- at least in his dealings with the public -- he was a class act.

Wonder what would cause a reasonably well-adjusted individual to act so stupidly, especially in such a public forum, mocking an obviously afflicted man.

[Geoff R. Casavant]

3. Is he "obviously afflicted," though?

My first thought when I saw his photo would have been that he was pressing his face against a window, or making a face like the original "ermahgerd" girl. I think Shaq can be forgiven for this -- if he thought something similar, posting a lookalike photo would have been just joining the joke.