“I was never really in love with the man” The words, straight from Shaunie Henderson’s memoir, ripped open a narrative many thought they knew. But it wasn’t the revelation itself that captivated the readers, it was Shaq’s raw, unflinching response: a public reckoning with his past that transformed a celebrity divorce into a lesson in accountability. Shaquille O’Neal is always known as the gentle giant. The one who is easy to love and adore so why was it that the one he was married to said otherwise? And why was it that Shaq himself responded the way he did?

Well, Shaq wasn’t trying to hide anything because he knew exactly where he went wrong. O’Neal took to Instagram with a brutally honest response. “I understand… I wouldn’t have been in love with me either,” he admitted. It was a moment of pure reflection, showing a side of Shaq that fans rarely see. Instead of bitterness, he ended his message with a simple, heartfelt sign-off: “All love, Shaq.”

Recently, he revisited the topic on It’s Giving-Podcast. When asked about Shaunie’s words, Shaq didn’t hesitate. “My response was I wouldn’t have loved me either,” he said. “It just showed me that, as a man, I was failing.” He explained that a man has three key responsibilities in a relationship: “Protect, provide, and love.” And by his own admission, he failed in all three areas.

But he didn’t stop there. Shaq took full accountability. “I understood it, I was an a——, I was an idiot,” he admitted. Losing his marriage made him realize just how much he had lost—not just a partner, but the foundation of his family. “So I am the type that, when I hear criticism or hear anything, before I emotionally react, you have to see if there’s some truth in it. I wouldn’t have loved me either.”

Still, Shaq made one thing clear—Shaunie was right. “She was a thousand percent correct. I failed her as a husband, as a protector, as a provider.” But this isn’t the first time he’s given her credit.

Shaquille O’Neal respects Shaunie

Shaunie Henderson’s memoir has sparked plenty of reactions, but none bigger than Shaq’s. Instead of pushing back, the Hall of Famer congratulated her on the book and took full accountability for their past. And this wasn’t the first time he admitted his mistakes—Shaq has been open about his regrets before.

Back in 2022, during The Pivot Podcast, he didn’t shy away from taking the blame for their split. “I was bad. She was awesome. She really was. It was all me,” he confessed.

Though he didn’t go into specifics, he made it clear that he failed in protecting her and upholding their vows. But despite his shortcomings, he gave Shaunie credit for always putting their kids first and making sure they were taken care of.

Shaq acknowledged Shaunie’s role in keeping their family together, saying, “She did exactly what she was supposed to do.” Speaking of their family, the former couple share four children—Shareef, 22, Amirah, 20, Shaqir, 19, and Me’arah, 15.

But after their divorce, things hit him hard. Retiring from the NBA only made things worse, and the emptiness deepened his remorse over losing her.

Still, Shaunie seems to understand why Shaq continues to speak on it. She knows that saying it out loud helps him process everything. But both have moved on. Shaunie is now happily married to pastor Keion Henderson, and Shaq is busy in his own ways.