When families in matching Christmas pajamas walked into the photo studio at JCPenney in New York this week, all they expected was a quick holiday portrait session. What they got instead was a 7-foot-1 Christmas miracle.
Shaquille O’Neal — four-time NBA champion, Basketball Hall of Famer, and certified king of surprise generosity — popped into the sessions completely unannounced, photobombing family pictures and handing out $1,000 JCPenney gift cards to each household. The moment instantly turned a simple holiday photo shoot into a memory they’ll be sharing for years.
Shaq-a-Claus Makes His Entrance
Empress Polite and her family had just posed in front of a cozy fireplace backdrop when the door opened — and someone had to duck under the frame to enter.
“It was just shocking because he’s super tall,” Polite said. “He was like, ‘Can I take a picture with y’all?’ And we were like, ‘Yeah!’”
Shaq didn’t just pose with the families — he gifted each one a $1,000 card to shop for the holidays. All three families who were scheduled during the surprise window were part of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, an organization close to Shaq’s heart. As a former Boys & Girls Club kid himself, he never misses a chance to give back.
Daniel Quintero, executive director of the club, said it best:
“The unexpected nature of it provided a tremendous surprise for our families. Those responses are priceless.”
Shaq Was Already in Town Spreading Holiday Cheer
O’Neal was in the Bronx hosting a meet-and-greet at The Mall at Bay Plaza to promote the launch of his new fragrance, Shaquille O’Neal Eau De Toilette, available exclusively at JCPenney. Fans lined up hours early — some arriving before lunchtime for a 5 p.m. event — just to snag a wristband for a photo and autographed box.
“I definitely did not expect a crowd this big,” Shaq told the cheering crowd. “I appreciate you. I love you guys… Now let’s have some fun.”
And fun is exactly what followed.
After greeting fans, Shaq took the escalator up to the portrait studio, transforming into Shaq-a-Claus with ease. He quietly snuck into one family’s photo like a 7-foot-1 elf, then walked into another session to surprise a young boy who just so happened to be his biggest fan.
Shaq’s Holiday Spirit Hits Different
Shaq isn’t new to jaw-dropping acts of kindness — from buying strangers laptops to paying off layaway items to paying for entire families’ furniture. But there’s something uniquely heartwarming about helping families capture holiday memories they’ll treasure forever.
“He understands the importance of helping families during this time,” Quintero said. “‘Tis the season, right?”
And thanks to Shaq, these families now have Christmas cards with the ultimate surprise guest star.
“They came out so lovely,” Polite said. “With him and without him. They’re all just beautiful.”