HOUSTON, TX – Dr. Matthews issued a forceful response to Shaquille O’Neal after an Instagram user shared a message attributed to the former NBA player calling him a “broke boy” and referencing his apartment and family.

A screenshot displayed by @ogbigmatt510 appeared to show a message from O’Neal’s verified Instagram account reading, “I hear you broke boy, have a great time in your apt with your family.”

Dr. Matthews said O’Neal was out of line and described the message as classist. She questioned why living in an apartment should be treated as an insult, saying she advocates for apartment residents and noting O’Neal has helped people who live in apartments.

She also accused O’Neal of mocking members of his own community and repeatedly told him to check himself. Dr. Matthews said O’Neal should know better and added, “When you know better, you do better.”

In blunt language, Dr. Matthews repeatedly said she would “whoop” O’Neal and put a belt on him if she saw him in Houston. She characterized the remarks as a rebuke made “with love” and said she did not want any hard feelings.

Dr. Matthews also objected to what she described as an artificial intelligence-generated video that referred to people as “peasants.”

O’Neal separately promoted a video titled “Chaos” on Instagram with the caption, “Enjoy this in your apartment,” before adding, “Love you all, even the haters.”

The man behind the @ogbigmatt510 account said he is a homeowner, combat veteran and retired noncommissioned officer. He said O’Neal had been his favorite basketball player and that he threw away a jersey he had kept since 2008 following the exchange.

In a follow-up video, the man said he did not enjoy criticizing O’Neal but believed his morals and principles required him to speak out.