NEW ORLEANS — NBA legend, and celebrity, Shaquille O’Neal has been named the Krewe of Bacchus’ monarch in its 2025 Mardi Gras parade, bringing his towering 7-foot-1 frame and larger-than-life personality to reign over the annual spectacle as Bacchus.
The parade, scheduled for March 2, will roll through New Orleans’ Uptown neighborhood with the theme “Louisiana Fairs and Festivals.” It will feature floats celebrating regional events such as the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival, St. Bernard Crawfish Festival, and Rayne Frog Festival.
Shaq, who played for LSU from 1989 to 1992, remains deeply tied to Louisiana. During his college basketball career, he was named NCAA Player of the Year and The Associated Press College Player of the Year. To highlight O’Neal’s purple-and-gold roots, the krewe will debut a new tiger-themed float that parade producer Barry Kern says will rival Bacchus’ iconic signature floats.
The krewe has also adjusted its throne float to accommodate O’Neal’s height.
If plans proceed, O’Neal could be joined by the LSU Tiger Marching Band, further emphasizing his connection to the state.
Celebrity monarchs have been a staple of Bacchus since the parade’s founding in 1968 which includes Bob Hope, Glen Campbell, Henry Winkler, Charlton Heston, Kirk Douglas, William Shatner, Billy Crystal, Larry King, Nicolas Cage, Michael Keaton, Hulk Hogan and Drew Brees.
The Krewe revolutionized Mardi Gras by introducing famous faces to Carnival, a practice that dates back to 1949 when Louis Armstrong reigned over the Zulu parade.
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