Shaquille O’Neal opened up in a recent interview about past relationships and how he still protects two important women in his life, despite their relationship statuses.
The NBA Hall-of-Famer appeared on the first episode of singer Monica’s Apple Music podcast MoTalk Radio and revealed how he “messed it up” with Arnetta Yardbourgh and Shaunie Henderson, the New York Post reported.
“I had two perfect women, and I messed it up,” Shaq said. “My first one was my baby mother, Arnetta [Yardbourgh], and then I met Shaunie [Nelson]. Shaunie was also a perfect woman, and I messed it up.
“Yeah, you know, we were young and always just doing dumb stuff. But, the good thing about our relationship is that they forgave me, and we have a good relationship now. But when you ask me about the perfect woman — I had two perfect women, and I messed it up, just by, you know, being dumb,” he added.
The 51-year-old was honest about his mistakes and vowed to teach his sons about relationships and the crucial things men should do for women.
“I tell my sons all the time, a man has three jobs when it comes to a woman: protect, provide and love. Some men can only offer two for whatever reason, but I’m going to teach you how to offer all three,” he told the Grammy Award winner, according to Essence. “Even though I don’t have a relationship with the women I let get away, I will always PPL: protect, provide, love. Whatever they need, they can get it from me.”
During the interview, Shaq said he still refers to Shaunie as his wife after she remarried Houston-based pastor Keion Henderson in 2022.
“Shaunie’s married. I’m happy for her. I hope this gentleman treats her the way she’s supposed to be treated. I’ma still love her. She’s still my wife. I’ll always protect, provide and love for her, married or not,” he said.
The former couple were married for nine years before finalizing their divorce in 2011. They share four children: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir and Me’arah. Shaunie also has a son, Myles, from a previous relationship.
Shaq also shared the same sentiments for Arnetta, with whom he shares his first child, daughter Taahira. The New Jersey native said he plans to support them with whatever they need.
“The same goes for my first love Arnetta. I’m going to always be there for them. They want to get married and find people better than me; I understand that. I accept that. Because it’s what we call in my sport a turnover. If you’re going to turn the ball over, you can score. But if you turn the ball up and give another person the opportunity to score, maybe they can score better.”
Watch Shaq on the first episode of Monica’s MoTalk Radio below:
