Paula Abdul Confesses She Hid from Shaquille O’Neal at NYE Party: “He Moons People”
Living next door to an NBA legend sounds like a dream come true for most people, but Paula Abdul’s experience as Shaquille O’Neal’s neighbor in Los Angeles proves it can be equal parts fun and chaos. In a recent interview with Jennifer Hudson, Abdul opened up about the quirky and unforgettable moments she shared with Shaq, especially during his infamous New Year’s Eve parties.
How Shaq Became Paula’s Neighbor
The story dates back to the late 1990s, when Abdul—already a well-known Laker Girl and entertainer—was pursuing her career in Los Angeles. Around the same time, Shaquille O’Neal had just been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and was looking for a place to call home. Abdul recalled Shaq touring her neighborhood and even checking out her own house. Ultimately, he wasn’t interested in her place, but when she showed him the house next door, he was immediately sold.
Their professional paths crossed as well, since both were represented by the same business manager. This connection quickly blossomed into a friendship, but Abdul soon discovered that having Shaq as a neighbor came with its own set of challenges.
The Downsides of Living Next to Shaq
Abdul joked that she hadn’t realized her new neighbor would bring “18 billion cars,” poking fun at Shaq’s legendary car collection that often filled the street. But the real challenge came during Shaq’s extravagant New Year’s Eve parties, which became a notorious tradition in the neighborhood.
“He always had these New Year’s Eve parties,” Abdul recalled. One year, she was relaxing at home in her sweats, enjoying a quiet holiday, when there was a knock at her door. Standing outside was Shaq, dressed in a bright pink three-piece suit with skinny grey pinstripes and a matching pink derby hat. Without warning, he scooped Abdul over his shoulder—despite her protests and casual attire—and brought her to the party, where everyone else was dressed to the nines.
Shaq’s Midnight Tradition: Mooning the Guests
As the clock approached midnight, Abdul revealed that she would always try to hide from Shaq, knowing what was about to happen. “I knew what happened at midnight. Right before the clock struck twelve, I ran under the dining room table because what he does is, he moons people and puts his butt on your head. That’s Shaq,” she said, causing the audience and Jennifer Hudson to burst into laughter.
For most people, such antics might be considered outrageous or even career-ending. But Shaq’s playful personality and sense of humor have always been part of his charm. In fact, this wasn’t the first time his mooning pranks had made headlines. On “Inside the NBA,” a photo of Shaq mooning someone during his Lakers days was shown, and while he jokingly claimed it was photoshopped, his laughter confirmed the story was true.
Shaq: Unapologetically Himself
After nearly three decades in the spotlight, Shaquille O’Neal remains the same fun-loving, larger-than-life character he was when he first entered the league with the Orlando Magic. Whether it’s his car collection, his outrageous parties, or his mooning pranks, Shaq has never shied away from being himself. Abdul’s story highlights this authenticity—he’s the type of neighbor who brings both excitement and unpredictability, but always with a good heart.
If anything, Shaq deserves credit for sticking to his roots and never losing his sense of humor, even if it means pulling off some wild stunts at inappropriate times. For Paula Abdul, sharing these memories is a reminder that life next to a superstar can be anything but ordinary.
Paula Abdul’s tales of New Year’s Eve with Shaquille O’Neal are a hilarious testament to Shaq’s playful spirit and the unpredictable joys of living next to one of basketball’s biggest personalities. While his mooning tradition might be shocking for some, for Abdul and those who know him well, it’s just another chapter in the legend of Shaq—a neighbor you’ll never forget.
