NBA legend and sports commentator Shaq reportedly sold his Auntie Anne’s Pretzels franchises and cited Black people not liking pretzels as the reason.
Shaq shared his reasoning during an interview on the Earn Your Leisure podcast, hosted by financial advisor Rashad Bilal and educator Troy Millings.
“You know we love pizza. I sold my Auntie Anne’s because Black people don’t like pretzels that much. So I had to switch it up,” he said during the interview.
The hosts laughed and challenged Shaq’s claim saying, “Naw, the cinnamon ones we eat.” However, the NBA Hall Of Famer maintained that pretzels simply isn’t something Black people eat.
“Maaan, nobody eat cinnamon pretzels,” he hilariously interjected. Shaq then said Auntie Anne’s was a “good investment” for him at first but that the numbers allegedly didn’t reflect it.
“At first, it was a good investment, but the numbers,” he added.
The New Jersey native reportedly purchased his Auntie Anne’s franchises in 2007. However, it’s unclear if he actually did sell all 17 of the stores listed in his portfolio. He also purchased multiple Five Guys restaurants, CityPlex12 movie theater in Newark, a Krispy Kreme franchise, and several Papa John’s franchises.
Shaq additionally had a burger spot named after him in Los Angeles called Shaquille’s but it permanently closed it doors when the pandemic hit. In 2018, he launched a fried chicken chain called Big Chicken, which currently has locations around the U.S. and, according to Eater, will soon open in Houston at the end of 2022 or early 2023. Shaq also plans to flood Texas alone with at least 50 locations and open 150 other locations in several states, including California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Tennessee. Big Chicken franchises are currently located in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, two Carnival cruise ships, and arenas in Seattle.
