Our man Shaq… a cultural icon? Trendsetter? Maybe…
Long before painted nails became a mainstream form of self-expression for men, it was often viewed as taboo. Music legends like Prince and David Bowie helped push boundaries in the 1970s and ’80s, while Dennis Rodman famously carried the trend into the sports world during the 1990s.
But according to Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean, one of the most unexpected influences on his decision to paint his nails came from none other than Shaquille O’Neal.
McLean recently reflected on a moment that stuck with him for years — a casual encounter where the NBA legend unknowingly helped shift his mindset.
“What I won’t ever forget about that day is that he was wearing flip flops or slides and his toenails were painted red,” McLean recalled. “I’ll never forget that. It stuck in my head. And I don’t know if that was what kicked me off to start painting my nails.”
For McLean, seeing one of the most physically dominant athletes in sports history confidently painting his nails sent a powerful message.
“Here’s this strong, incredible athlete, and he’s painting his nails,” McLean said. “Maybe that was the catalyst for me to feel strong enough in my manhood to paint my nails.”
The connection between Shaq and the Backstreet Boys runs deeper than most fans realize. Before becoming one of the best-selling music groups of all time, the Backstreet Boys were just five aspiring performers in Orlando in the early 1990s. At the same time, Shaq was a rising NBA superstar playing for the Orlando Magic — and already building a reputation as a creative and entrepreneurial force off the court.
According to NSYNC’s Lance Bass, both NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys recorded early demos at Shaq’s Orlando home.
“A lot of people don’t know Shaquille had a big hand in starting our career,” Bass once said. “The first place that we recorded was his house.”
McLean later confirmed that Shaq even explored the idea of signing the group.
“I don’t know what would have happened if we went that route,” McLean said. “No disrespect to Shaq — I love him — but I don’t know if we’d be where we are today. That man knows business, though. He’s built an empire.”
Shaq, of course, has never shied away from doing things his own way — including painting his toenails. On a 2024 episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, the Hall of Famer shared the surprisingly practical reason behind the habit.
As a kid, Shaq once tore a toenail during a game and refused to keep playing. His mother stepped in, fixed the injury, and painted the nail red. Shaq went on to score 40 points that game.
“That’s why I paint my toenails,” Shaq explained. “All that other stuff people try to put on it? Don’t put that on me.”
Shaq is often credited with inspiring generations of kids to pick up a basketball. But in this case, his influence reached far beyond the court. For one Backstreet Boy, Shaq helped redefine confidence, masculinity, and self-expression — simply by being himself.
Sometimes, the biggest cultural shifts start with the smallest details.