Mother of 4, Shaunie Henderson Sacrificed Major TV Gig After Divorce to Shaquille O’Neal

After ending a 7-year-old relationship, Shaunie Henderson, Shaquille O’Neal‘s ex-wife, has emerged with an impressive outlook on life. She believes in letting things unfold naturally instead of trying to force an outcome. As they say, “Let the Universe Decide.” From basketball wife to preacher wife, she underwent a major transformative journey post-divorce. In her book “Undefeated” she pens down the raw emotions and sacrifices she underwent to ensure the happiness and well-being of her children.

“It was going to be a panel show like The Real, with women talking about the issues of the day. I would have loved to have done it, but I wasn’t willing to uproot the kids again, especially to New York, where we knew nobody. It would have been just too far from home. So I said, ‘No, thank you,” Henderson recalls in her book. Her decision to reject the offer to be a daytime host of a popular reality show on TV, despite the lucrative offerings, demonstrated Henderson’s Family First Rule. 

Shaunie Henderson’s Basketball Wives was a big hit on television. Since the crew filmed abroad, she had no time for the kids. Shaunie’s mother and sister played crucial roles in maintaining the household during her absences, ensuring her 4 children — Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir, and Me’Arah — were well cared for. “Luckily for me, my mother and sister were on top of things at home, so I knew things weren’t going to fall apart while I was gone, but I was still going against what I had told my children-that time with them was the most important thing to me.” she writes.

Shaunie Henderson and her mom experienced one common thing in their marriages: infidelity. Although their marriages had different outcomes, Henderson absorbed a few traits from her mother. She mentioned her mother, acting as a pillar of support during those hard times, and her love language was acts of service. Henderson looks up to her mother, who endured the marriage till the end, as a role model in the upbringing of her children as she fought through difficulties of her own with Shaq.

Shaunie Henderson still lives by the principle, “Let the Universe Decide.” Three years ago, Henderson received an opportunity to be the host of the reality show “The Real,” this time with her children all grown up and out of the house. However, it didn’t work out as planned due to unknown reasons. Nonetheless, the 49-year-old has now established a safe space for herself, at peace and successful.

Shaunie Henderson continues to dream

Shaunie Henderson’s journey after her divorce has taken a drastic change from being the wife of the Los Angeles Lakers Legend, to now the First Lady of the Lighthouse Church. Henderson is married to Pastor Keion Henderson and she fulfilled her duties by preaching alongside him, living a humble life. Keion and Shaunie Henderson’s marriage seems to be sailing smoothly. “I love this guy, and the best part about it is he’s my best friend,” said Henderson, who is constantly working on herself.

Shaunie Henderson calls the “Undefeated” –which went on to become #1 National Bestseller– therapy in a book. She introduces her ‘Privacy bubble,’ emphasizing she lives life in her bubble, after she experienced her trust being broken time and again post-divorce by people with not so good intentions. While some may call it lonely, the Basketball Wives producer reveals she has rather mastered it. ‘A protective space,’ she calls it, filled only with people close to her heart.

Henderson is way past her divorce and has embraced a new beginning with her husband. Writing the book was a therapeutic experience and an outlet for her emotions. “Maybe one of these days, I will get a talk show of my own. I’ll certainly have a lot to say,” said Henderson, the First Lady of the Lighthouse Church.

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.