Perhaps reading his ex-wife’s memoir is making Shaquille O’Neal a bit anxiоus.
Shaunie Henderson, the ex-wife of the 51-year-old NBA legend, made the announcement on Wednesday that her memoir, UNDEFEATED: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms, will be published in May by Gallery Books.
“Uh oh naaa I’m just playing,” O’Neal said in his Instagram picture, adding a “congrats” comment, just after 49-year-old Henderson announced the news.
In 2002, Henderson wed O’Neal, who was 51 years old at the time. Shareef and Shaqir are sons, and Amirah and Me’arah are daughters.
Myles is the athlete’s stepson from a previous relationship with Henderson, and Taahirah is the athlete’s daughter from a previous relationship with Arnetta Yardbourgh.
In his 2011 biography, Shaq Uncut: My Story, O’Neal confessed that he and Henderson battled infidelity throughout their relationship, which started in the late 90s and ended in 2009 with Henderson’s filing for separation.
Henderson revealed to PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that she has “always had a feаr of sharing too much” about her private relationships in the spotlight.
“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,” revealed Henderson.
During the reflection on her marriage to O’Neal, Henderson clarified that she is not “throwing him under the bus or anything like that” in the chapters.
However, “anything involving Shaquille is always a sketchy thing because he is who he is, and despite what our story is, no one ever wants to hear what could come across as not the greatest reputation,” added the grandmother.
While discussing the breakdown of their marriage, Henderson acknowledged that O’Neal’s public admissions “made it easier” to provide her perspective. “Oh, okay, he lied to himself,” she said while laughing.
“I’m literally telling my story and my journey, which he was a part of,” according to her.
“So I’ve always been a little nervous about that, but I think I did a good job at sharing my story without destroying him because that’s not my intent at all, ever.”
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