Maren Morris/Instagram. Maren Morris posts a picture of Shaq showing their size difference. https://www.instagram.com/p/CjMtyqCOQy6/?hl=en.
Maren Morris/Instagram
Maren Morris poked fun at the huge height difference between her and NBA icon Shaquille O’Neal in a humorous Instagram post on Saturday.
“Big boys,” she captioned the photo, seemingly referring to her penchant for men taller than her, as her husband, country singer Ryan Hurd, also towers over the petite singer.
Morris, 32, was in Vegas to perform at The Event, a benefit for Shaq’s The Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, which supports underserved young people in Las Vegas and Atlanta through the Boys & Girls Club and Communities in Schools.
The second annual philanthropy event was marked by a series of rock star performances including sets by Maroon 5, Pitbull and HER, and a stand-up set by John Mulaney.
The former NBA superstar called last year’s event a “lifetime highlight” in a statement announcing the return of the benefit this year. “This night is about people – from regular fans to sports and entertainment stars to corporate CEOs – coming together to make a difference in the lives of children.”
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Morris, who married Hurd in 2018, often jokes about the height difference between the couple. In May, she shared a series of videos on her TikTok in which she made reference to her husband’s height. “They make me look up when I’m feeling down,” she captioned the video, adding #TallGuys, the same term she used for her photo with Shaq.
In a behind-the-scenes clip of the same video, she joked that Hurd would “really milk” the elevation gain. “So you are!” he answered.
The pair share two-year-old Hayes Andrew, who toured with Morris for a month this summer. She said he “came alive” when he joined her in August and was “talking more than ever.”
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While the impressive cast of artists entertained guests, the real focus of the evening was O’Neal’s philanthropy.
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He founded the organization in 2019 and has worked with Boys & Girls Club and Communities in Schools in Las Vegas and Atlanta, two organizations “close to his heart” to provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people.
A key aspect of its annual benefit is the Live Auction, which gives guests the chance to bid on a variety of lavish items, including hanging out with the basketball star at his house and playing HORSE. Another item included a table reading involving Issa Rae.
In 2021, The Event raised $2.9 million for underserved children through auction purchases and ticket sales. On Saturday, that number was dwarfed by $3.15 million.