Gina Rodriguez Shares Her Son Charlie's Adorable Nickname for HerLucky 13Co-Host Shaquille O’Neal (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Joe Locicero and Gina Rodriguez and their son Charlie.Photo:Gina Rodriguez Instagram

Gina Rodriguez Instagram

Gina Rodriguez’snewest costar has made a big impression on her little boy — and not just because he’s so tall.

While chatting with PEOPLE about her new showLucky 13, a high-stakes game show theJane the Virginalum co-hosts withShaquille O’Neal, the star, 40, shared that her son Charlie Ray, whom she welcomed in early 2023, is a big fan of the NBA icon — and the feeling is mutual.

“When we saw the first episode [of Lucky 13], Charlie looked at the screen and said, ‘Tío Shaq,’ and wasn’t even fazed it was me,” she continues.

“I was like, ‘What about Mom?’ I’m like, ‘Mama’s right there!’ And he was like, ‘Tío Shaq, Tío Shaq!'”

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Gina Rodriguez and Shaquille O’Neal on set of Lucky 13.DISNEY/Ronda Churchill

DISNEY/Ronda Churchill

Rodriguez shares her son with husband Joe LoCicero.

In February, the actress appeared onPEOPLE in 10where shespoke about celebrating her sonCharlie’sfirst birthday. While discussing how the past year has been, the proud mom remembered where she was at that time the year prior.

“This first year…you know, last year this week we were in the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] because my son had a little more difficult experience after coming out,” the star shared.

“And to think now…of course now I’m going to cry. To think now that we have this healthy, vivacious, loving, so loving little boy…there’s so much gratitude in the journey. It’s laughs and tears.”

“So Charlie holds a lot of beautiful ancestors in his name,” she said.

At the time, the star said she was “in newborn heaven, honestly.”

Noting how each and every day brings “a new best moment,” the star explained, “He’s completely developing and evolving every single day. It went from him not making eye contact to making eye contact, him not smiling to smiling.”

“He’s starting to giggle. Every day is a new something. I swear, sometimes it’s a nap and he wakes up and there’s a new something, and you’re just mind-blown,” she added. “He’s so freaking adorable, and you just want to eat him up.”

Lucky 13airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

source: people.com