Shaunie Henderson’s feelings and admissions about her first marriage were the biggest focus of her memoir, Undefeated. Her confession that she didn’t feel in love with her husband of seven years, Shaquille O’Neal, was the most dramatic tidbit out of it. But the most confessions in the book were about Shaq. Now these exes have the strongest co-parenting relationship, with a mutual appreciation for one another. That could arguably be the best thing to come out of their divorce and Shaq’s admission of his faults.

They filed for divorce a second time in 2009 and finalized it in 2011. Shaunie revealed that they had a heart-to-heart about it a few years after their separation. She said it was a “very honest and satisfying conversation” that probably gave her the closure she needed. In their talk, Shaq admitted why he was unfaithful to her.

“What’s crazy is that cheating was an ego boost,” Shaq told Shaunie, as per Undefeated. “It wasn’t even about the girl. It wasn’t about me falling for someone or having feelings for her. It was about getting away with it.” 

She writes that every fling was a “conquest” to him. He neither puts misplaced blame on her nor does he put the fault on anyone but himself. Most of all, he admitted that the ego boost didn’t justify his actions. “I appreciated his honesty about it,” Shaunie says.

Now Shaunie is proud of the relationship she and Shaq have built. She calls it a peaceful coexistence with their five children as neutral ground. She feels comfortable consulting him regarding the kids anytime. And this friendship also extends to her current husband.

Shaquille O’Neal and Shaunie Henderson are a balanced team

Shaunie moved on from her divorce with Shaq with Keion Henderson. They married in 2022 with her kids at their wedding party. Shaunie gave her ex an honorary invite to her wedding and Shaq had said he was happy for her. He also added, “I’mma still love her. She’s still my wife, I will always protect, provide, and love for her, married or not.” That statement was just as dramatic as Shaunie writing that she wasn’t in love with Shaq.

But both their confessions would create awkwardness between them. Shaunie went on record to say she appreciated Shaq’s support of her book. Meanwhile, Keion said there’s no animosity between him and Shaunie’s ex. In fact, the Houston-based pastor admires the big man for his philanthropy.

Contrary to the noise their respective comments create, Shaq and Shaunie are the definition of amicable exes. As parents, nothing will shake this team.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.