Former NBA athlete Shaquille O’Neal made headlines when he discussed his marriage to ex-wife Shaunie O’Neal. In an episode of The Pivot Podcast, he sat down to explain how he was at fault for their divorce, saying, “I know I messed up.” He also admitted that he felt lost when their marriage ended. And after getting to know more about Shaunie O’Neal, we can certainly understand why.
According to Shaq, Shaunie was the perfect wife.
“She did exactly what she was supposed to do,” he said during the interview. “Take care of the kids. Take care of the house. Take care of corporate stuff.”
“It was all me,” he said, explaining what caused the end of his marriage. “We don’t need to talk about what I was doing, but I wasn’t protecting her and protecting those vows. Sometimes you live that double life and get caught up. I’m not going to say it was her. It was all me.”
Many recognize Shaunie O’Neal as the former wife of an NBA legend. But she is much more than that. In fact, she was a success in her own right, even before she met her famous ex-husband. Whether she has her hands in philanthropy or in helping to film a television show, Shaunie O’Neal is the star of her own team. Here are five facts to know about Shaunie O’ Neal:
1. Shaunie O'Neal recently remarried.
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In May, she and her groom Keion Henderson tied the knot on the beautiful island of Anguilla. Henderson is the pastor of The Lighthouse Church & Ministries in Houston. And because her faith is an important part of her life, the union was fitting.
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The couple dated for two years after meeting in a hotel lobby. And according to Henderson, his new bride is the perfect catch.
“She’s amazing. She’s just the most laid-back, hilarious, fun-loving person. She’s a woman of faith,” he told People. “She can cook, she can dress, and she can sing!”
2. She's still friends with her ex, Shaq.
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Even though Shaq and Shaunie are divorced, they are far from scorned ex-lovers. In fact, the two maintain a pretty good relationship, despite their past.
Shaunie shares five children with the NBA superstar, which contributes to their friendly relationship. In an interview on the Tamron Hall Show, she said that she has a “great co-parenting relationship” with the former athlete — so much so that he often teases her about having more.
“I’m like, ‘Well, knock yourself out. Have a good time with that one. I think you’ve pushed over that hill now, sir,'” she joked on the show.
3. She founded a nonprofit.
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Shaunie is all about her faith, and she practices what she preaches in her everyday life.
She started Amirah, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps women who are victims of sexual exploitation, sex trafficking and prostitution. The company provides shelter, including a long-term recovery program, for women in need.
Amirah, Inc. seeks to educate not only the women in need, but also communities, providers and policymakers, on the challenges victims and survivors face. In 2021, the company trained nearly 700 health, social service and law enforcement leaders on how to identify and help victims.
The company also ushered 1,500 victims to safety to help them move on with their lives in a healthy and productive way.
4. She's also an executive producer.
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Shaunie is no stranger to the entertainment industry. Sure, she’s a reality television star, but she’s also the brains behind some of your favorite TV shows. The multitalented star is an executive producer for Basketball Wives, Basketball Wives LA and Baller Wives.
And even though Shaunie is known for her on-camera personality, in an interview with The List, she admitted to feeling more comfortable behind the scenes.
“Once [VH1] asked me to do it and said, ‘Hey, we want it. We want you to,’ I did it,” she said during the interview. “But I will be honest, I feel better off-camera. It’s an easier space.”
Fortunately for her, all three series have earned great success, having amassed a large fanbase that tunes in each week to watch the drama unfold.
5. Her kids mean the world to her.
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Shaunie wears many hats, from reality TV star to television show producer. But if you ask her, she would probably say the most important title she wears is “mom.”
In 1997, she gave birth to her first child, Myles. Her and Shaq also welcomed four children together — Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir and Me’arah.
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Shaunie regularly shares pictures of her family on social media. And the hands-on mom has plenty of reasons to be proud. Her second oldest son Shareef recently signed a six-figure contract with the NBA G League Ignite. And at just 16 years old, her daughter Me’arah has already been featured on the cover of a magazine.
