Shaquille O’Neal Respond To Ex-Wife Shaunie Henderson’s Questioning Of Her Love For Him In Memoi

Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal recently shared a heartfelt and introspective message on Instagram, reacting to the poignant revelations made by his ex-wife Shaunie Henderson in her new memoir. Shaunie, who rose to fame on the reality show Basketball Wives, released UNDEFEATED: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms on May 7, stirring discussions with her candid reflections about their relationship.

In her book, Shaunie, now 49, questioned the depth of her feelings during their marriage, stating, “Looking back, I don’t know that I was ever really in love with the man,” referring to Shaquille, whom she married in 2002. The couple’s journey began in the late ’90s and saw its share of challenges, leading to their separation in 2009. The struggles included dealing with infidelity, which Shaquille admitted to in his 2011 memoir, Shaq Uncut: My Story.

Shaunie expressed in her memoir that while she cherished the idea of building a life with Shaquille, the reality of being married to a “world-famous, thirty-something multimillionaire” amid the constant attention from others strained their union. Despite the troubles, Shaunie recalls the moments she enjoyed being with Shaquille, appreciating the time they spent together.

Responding to the memoir’s release and its contents in an Instagram post on May 8 Shaquille wrote,  “I understand…I wouldn’t have been in love with me either. Wishing you all the best. All love, Shaq.” 

He captioned the post, “Trust me I get it,” which quickly garnered support from fans and family alike. 

Their son Shareef, 24, commented, “Love you man! You saved my life,” and added that his father is “literally the most lovable and likable person on the planet.”

The support didn’t stop there. Kenya Barris, creator of Black-ish, called Shaquille a “Class Act” in the comments, while television host Tamron Hall and rapper Rick Ross left symbols of support and agreement.

Shaunie, who had expressed her nervousness about releasing the memoir back in January, told PEOPLE that she was cautious about sharing a story that intertwined so closely with Shaquille’s. She explained, “I always had a fear of sharing too much and of telling my story that involved anybody else.” 

“I didn’t want to disrespect someone else’s story, even if it was a part of mine, but as I get older and do more things in the entertainment industry, I found that people have a misconception of who I am,” she added.

Now remarried to Pastor Keion Henderson, Shaunie emphasized that her narrative was not aimed at tarnishing Shaquille’s reputation but was a candid exploration of her personal journey and growth.