“She’s still my wife” – Shaquille O’Neal VOWS to continue ‘provide and love’ ex-wife Shaunie

Shaq shares four of his kids with his ex-wife Shaunie

“She’s still my wife” – Shaquille O’Neal VOWS to continue ‘provide and love’ ex-wife Shaunie

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Widely regarded as one of the greatest centers to have ever played the game of basketball, Shaquille O’Neal was a menace for opposing defenses whenever he stepped on the floor. While Shaq’s popularity as an NBA player knew no bounds, his personal life often came into the limelight. On December 26th, 2002, Shaq married Shaunie Henderson (previously known as Shaunie Nelson and Shaunie O’Neal respectively) at the Beverly Hills Hotel in California. The couple got engaged two years after dating and eventually married each other two years later.

They shared 4 kids together: Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’arah. Shaq and Shaunie also co-parented Taahirah, O’Neal’s oldest daughter from his previous girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh, and Myles O’Neal, Shaunie’s son from a previous relationship. In 2007, O’Neal and Shaunie separated after 5 years of marriage. The two would reconcile shortly after but in 2009, Shaunie filed for divorce citing “irreconcilable differences”. Shaq recently appeared on the first episode of R&B singer Monica’s podcast “MoTalk Radio” and spoke in length about how he messed up in both of his previous relationships.

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“I had two perfect women, and I messed it up. My first one was my baby mother, Arnetta, and then I met Shaunie. Shaunie was also a perfect woman, and I messed it up.” The Hall Of Famer then spoke about raising his sons the right way and teaching them the value of relationships and how men should treat women. He added, “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. 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.“

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Despite Shaunie remarrying and recently celebrating her one-year anniversary with Houston-based pastor Keion Henderson, Shaquille O’Neal still refers to her as his “wife”. He stated that he was happy for her and would want the gentleman married to her to treat her the way she is supposed to be treated. He concluded by saying that she is still his wife and that he will always protect, provide and love her, whether they are married or not.

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Shaquille O’Neal pays $100,000 to Shaunie Henderson every month

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Shaq and Shaunie in happier times (Getty Images)

While Shaq has always spoken about how he is to be blamed for his divorce from Shaunie since he violated their pre-marital vows and promises, there were reportedly some allegations from Shaunie’s end about Shaq cheating on her during their marriage.

As per another report in 2008, Shaunie was suspected of having affairs with multiple man while being married to Shaq.

According to various reports, O’Neal pays almost $100,000 in child support for their four children. Out of his 6 children, 4 of them have taken up basketball. Shareef O’Neal currently plays in the G League, Amirah O’Neal plays college basketball for the LSU Tigers at Louisiana State University, Shaqir O’Neal plays college basketball for the Texas Southern Tigers at Southern Texas University and Me’arah O’Neal who is a high school basketball sensation, plays for the California Interscholastic Federation League.

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