Shaquille O'Neal Fanboys Over Taylor Swift; Gifts Her $4,500 Custom Bag With Travis Kelce's Number
Shaquille O'Neal surprised Taylor Swift with a lavish gift that features a nod to her boyfriend Travis Kelce at the 2024 Super Bowl Sunday.
The basketball legend confirmed via Instagram that he gave the Grammy-winning singer a crystal-encrusted Judith Leiber football clutch emblazoned with Kelce's jersey number.
O'Neal shared a photo of him and Authentic Brands Group CEO Jamie Salter posing with Swift at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, confirming the origin of the $4,495 accessory.
In the caption, O'Neal expressed his excitement about meeting Swift and gifting her the NFL-themed Judith Leiber bag.
"Finally met @taylorswift me and @jamiejsalter gifted her [an NFL] Judith Leiber bag," the athlete-turned-sports analyst wrote on Instagram Sunday.
Swift rocked the bedazzled bag alongside a red Chiefs bomber jacket from WEAR by Erin Andrews and black jeans featuring rhinestone embellished cutouts.
The singer completed her ensemble with a black corset tank top, matching heeled boots, her signature red lip, and an "87" necklace.
Ahead of the big game, O'Neal expressed his desire to meet the "Anti-Hero" hitmaker in Las Vegas, telling Page Six, "If I see Taylor Swift and get to shake her hand, take a picture, I'll be good."
He went on to shower Swift with praise, adding: "She's a fabulous person. I'm happy for her. I'm proud of her. She's done a lot. She's definitely a cultural icon. I just want to shake the hand of greatness."
The luxurious clutch he gave Swift features over 10,000 hand-set crystals and white enamel laces, Judith Leiber Couture chief creative officer Jana Matheson said in a statement cited by the outlet.
According to Matheson, the bag was created by the brand's team in Italy and took more than 80 hours to complete.
She explained the design choice, stating, "We wanted to create a playful and whimsical design that would reflect Taylor's sparkling team spirit and always fearless style."
This isn't the first time Swift has received a Judith Leiber creation as a gift.
The Hunt family, owners of the Kansas City Chiefs, previously gave her a shimmering microphone clutch worth $4,995 for her birthday, according to Page Six.
Meanwhile, Swift and Kelce celebrated the Kansas City Chiefs' 2024 Super Bowl victory at a Las Vegas afterparty Sunday night.
An Instagram video shared by a Taylor Swift fan account captured Kelce dancing and singing along to a remix of his girlfriend's 2008 hit "You Belong With Me" at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas.
In the video, Kelce enthusiastically joined The Chainsmokers' DJ booth while the crowd celebrated the Chiefs' win against the San Francisco 49ers in overtime.
The night was filled with romantic moments as Swift and Kelce, both 34, were seen dancing together.
