After being married to Shaquille O’Neal for 9 years and sharing 4 kids with him, Shaunie had a late awakening as she found out that people in the entertainment industry had a misconception about who she was. “I’m literally telling my story and my journey, which he was a part of.” After hearing Shaq O’Neal’s side of the story over the years, Shaunie has now decided to reveal what effects her marriage to the 4x NBA champion had on her.

During her recent conversation with PEOPLE, Shaunie said, “There was a point in my life when I was completely dependent on my ex-husband and I didn’t even realize it. I didn’t realize it at all until we got a divorce.” However, she dared to pull herself through it and now is at a point in her life where she can share these stories with everyone.

She wishes that her story will make women “financially, emotionally, and mentally independent.” She continued, “I didn’t even realize I was so co-dependent until it slapped me in the face. And that’s on me. I take responsibility for that.”

Shaunie clarified that she didn’t think it was Shaq’s fault at all and that it was her ignorance that brought her to that point in her life. “It’s not Shaquille’s fault, that’s not anybody else’s fault, that’s mine. But that’s how I got to where I am right now, was that light bulb moment or reality moment that hit me that I had to do something to change the trajectory of life for me and my kids.”

Shaq and Shaunie got married in 2002 after dating for two years. Being married to an NBA superstar like O’Neal often put Shaunie in the limelight. However, things soon went downhill with reports of infidelity, which Shaq himself confirmed later on. Shaunie even admitted that Shaq’s public confessions about their’ marriage’s demise made it easier for her to share her side.

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While they got divorced in 2011, the former couple still shares a great relationship for the sake of their kids. The 49-year-old also expressed what made her write this memoir ‘UNDEFEATED’.

“I’m not doing it for the people” – Shaunie Henderson

She has lived a life that is full of limelight and attention, and in that process, she believes that the truth often gets diluted. She also believes that it is important for her to present her side of the story, even if there’s no conflict with the earlier narrative.

She said, “I just try to just share who I am in this book and make it make sense. I mean, maybe people will get it, maybe they won’t. But I’m not doing it for people. I think I’m doing it just to kind of free myself.” So if you’re a fan of Shaquille O’Neal, or NBA Wives is your area of interest, her upcoming memoir just might be for you.

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