Shaq, Gronk to host virtual party for social justice
TAMPA, Fla. — Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski believe that not only is it time to advance the conversation about social injustice in America — it’s time to come together and heal.
Like so many who have been affected by the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor, and the protests that followed, they wrestled with, “What do we do next? What can we do to help?”
So O’Neal and Gronkowski have turned what they hoped would have been a real-life party into a three-hour virtual fundraiser, with all proceeds going to NAACP Empowerment Programs and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The event, Shaq’s Fun House vs. Gronk Beach virtual party — which pays homage to their annual Super Bowl parties — will take place June 27 at 8 p.m. ET. It will include musical performances from Snoop Dogg, DaBaby, Steve Aoki, Diplo and Carnage. O’Neal will also make an appearance as DJ Diesel. It will be livestreamed free on ShaqvsGronk.com and simulcast across more than 20 other platforms, including LiveXLive, Facebook, Twitch, YouTube and Twitter.
“We want to be sensitive to people. That’s why we wanted [it] to be labeled as ‘Party with a Purpose,'” said O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion and 15-time All-Star. “We just want to bring a little joy. There’s a lot of stuff going on, and we are aware of that, and we hope to do our part. We’re gonna continue to do our part.”
