January 4, 2013 | Sex & Society

Shaquille O'Neal: don't pee next to me

Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal pissed a few people off after he posted the above cartoon on his Facebook page yesterday.  "This is an automatic fight in my book.......LMFAO," O'Neal wrote.

And while some of his followers used the image as a chance to share gay jokes and homophobic comments, others were unhappy with Shaq for 'instigating' anti-gay sentiment.

"Glad to know you like to start hate dialogue against gay people shaq just lost a fan here," one wrote.

"Though he may have not intended it, the post, which points out a common men's room faux pas avoided by straight and gay men alike, has encouraged and produced hateful dialogue against the latter," blogger Towleroad added. 

It is, of course, unlikely that Shaq meant anything homophobic with the image. He has spoken out in support of gay rights, and in October 2011, O'Neal partnered with the NBA and the American Federation of Teachers for GLAAD's "Amplify Your Voice!" PSA series against bullying.

The real question is why do some men insist on using the urinal closest to you when there are so many others free?