After Stern Warning to Shaqir O’Neal, Keion Henderson Admits Hurting Mom in Childhood Accident

“It’s a good feeling to know that I’m able to give my kids more and be a better person to be around,” Shaunie Henderson once shared. Shaquille O’Neal and Shaunie, formerly O’Neal, have a long and intertwined history. Despite facing challenges, their relationship blessed them with five children, and even after their separation in 2011, Shaunie has maintained a close bond with her kids, using past experiences to gain fresh perspectives on parenting and family dynamics. These revelations have shaped the O’Neal-Henderson blended family, fostering growth and understanding.

In a recent episode of the Growzone podcast, Keion Henderson opened up about a childhood moment that left a lasting impression on his life. He confessed to accidentally slamming into his mother during his childhood. While seemingly minor, this incident taught him a lot, while also making him reflect upon the deep respect and love he has for his mother.

“I accidentally bumped my mama before and thought my life was over,” said Keion during the podcast. This urged Shaunie to ask the question that how can someone accidentally bump someone. “I was getting a whooping and actually I threw my hands back. She said ‘You hit me?’ It was an accident… I will never hit that woman at 70. I think she would find enough strength to come and climb up me like a mountain and knock me back down,” added Keion during the podcast.

This admission came shortly after his stern remarks about Shaqir O’Neal. Keion’s recent comments about Shaqir stemmed from a parental anecdote. He shared his frustration when, at 21, Shaqir relied on his mother to help him order food. “Shaqir is 21… this man looks across the table at you [Shaunie] and says, ‘Mama, can you order my food.’ And I’m thinking in my head…You better not order this grown man food’,” revealed Keion.

To the pastor’s relief, Shaunie didn’t order the food for Shaqir, but the 21-year-old found his way as he took the help of his sister to complete his wish. This incident had infuriated Keion. “Do you know what he did? He looked at his younger sister, who’s 17, and made her order it. I wanted to push him out of that chair and step on his ankle. Why are we asking our mother, at 20… with no shame, to order our food?”, added the 43-year-old. This juxtaposition of his parenting style with his childhood reflection reveals the complexities of navigating a blended household.

Keion’s relationship with Shaunie has been a journey of love, understanding, and family integration. After Shaunie’s high-profile marriage to Shaquille O’Neal, which lasted nearly a decade, she found a new beginning with Keion. The couple got married in 2022 at the Aurora Anguilla Resort and Golf Club with nearly 200 guests in attendance.

As Shaunie and Keion navigate their roles as partners and co-parents, their journey underscores the complexities of blending families with strong personalities and public personas. However, this wasn’t the only revelation that was made about Shaqir during the podcast.

When Shaunie chose a stricter form of parenting for Shaqir

When Shaunie and Shaq welcomed their son Shaqir on April 19, 2003, they couldn’t have imagined the unique parenting challenges they would face. As parents to a growing family, Shaunie embraced the joys of nurturing their children but soon discovered that Shaqir required a different approach to discipline.

In the same podcast episode, Shaunie opened up about a moment when she resorted to physical discipline, sparking conversations about the use of violence in parenting. “I would say stuff like if you want them two front teeth to remain there, please listen. But you know, all kids are different. I didn’t have to do that with anybody else. (But) Shaqir, like chokehold, you know but it is what it is. I might be smaller, but you’re still alive. You might be a little better than bruised. I know I didn’t have to whoop him but I did have to parent him differently,” said the 50-year-old during the podcast.

Although it was not revealed why the actress chose a physical way of disciplining her kid, she seems to be content with the methods she used to raise her kids.