Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal recently disclosed on “The Big Podcast with Shaq” that he was initially worried about his daughters upon hearing the tragic news of Shaq Barrett’s daughter’s untimely passing. O’Neal stated that when he received a Google alert regarding the incident, he immediately felt an intense impact. As he is always informed about news regarding anyone named “Shaquille,” he quickly opened the alert and discovered that Shaq Barrett’s daughter had died in a pool accident.
O’Neal, however, refrained from panicking and instead tried to get in touch with Barrett to express his condolences. The former NBA star messaged Barrett through direct message on social media and conveyed his sincere apologies. O’Neal revealed that he cannot even begin to fathom the kind of grief that Barrett and his family must be going through at this moment.
According to reports, Tampa police officers responded to an emergency call about a child who had fallen into a pool. The child was immediately transported to a nearby hospital, but unfortunately, she passed away shortly after. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that Barrett plays for, issued a statement about the tragedy, expressing their deepest condolences and offering their support to the family during this difficult time.
“It hit me harder yesterday because I got the Google alerts,” O’Neal said. “So, anything ‘Shaquille’ pops up…” “So, I’m getting on my phone, and it says ‘Shaquil’s daughter dies in pool.’ So, I’m taught not to panic first. I didn’t get no calls or no texts. And then I opened it up [the alert] and was like ‘Damn.’ I immediately jumped in the DM [direct message] and told him I was sorry for his loss. I can’t imagine that one, brother. I really can’t.”
Following Arrayah’s untimely demise, Jordanna, Shaq Barrett’s wife, spoke about the family’s loss. In an Instagram post, Jordanna thanked everyone who had reached out with messages, flowers, thoughts, and prayers. She also shared a beautiful photo of Arrayah and said that her daughter would always be the apple of her eye. Jordanna expressed her immense love for her daughter and how her heart would always be with her. She vowed to watch over her siblings and parents until they meet again in heaven.
The loss of a child is one of the most profound and painful experiences a parent can endure. Shaq Barrett and his family, along with all those who knew and loved Arrayah, are undoubtedly struggling to come to terms with their devastating loss. We can only hope that they find comfort in the outpouring of support from friends, family, and the wider community.
“Today’s tragic news is heartbreaking for all members of the Buccaneers family,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Shaq, Jordanna and the entire Barrett family during this unimaginably difficult time. “While no words can provide true comfort at a time such as this, we offer our support and love as they begin to process this very profound loss of their beloved Arrayah.”
