Shaquille O'Neal's ex-wife explains how co-parenting with NBA legend works: "We respect each other's space and the places that we are in"
Shaquille O'Neal and Shaunie Henderson were married from 2002 to 2009. They had four children together, with Shaq also adopting Shaunie's son from a previous relationship. The two are role models for co-parenting, and Shaunie has revealed how she makes it work with her ex-husband.
In an interview with Mike Vulpo of Entertainment News, Shaunie discussed her relationship with the NBA legend and how they make co-parenting work. She explained that it all comes down to respect because, at the end of the day, it was about their children.
"We're cool," Shaunie said. "We've been co-parenting for 12 years and we had to get to some space where we were able to communicate and remain friends. It's not this talk everyday thing, but we come together for the kids and we respect each other's space and the places that we are in."
To read Shaunie Henderson's entire interview with Entertainment News, click here.
Shaquille O'Neal on co-parenting with his ex-wife
While Shaunie Henderson credited respect for making co-parenting work with Shaquille O'Neal, he used basketball as an analogy to prove his point.
In an interview with US Magazine back in 2019, O'Neal revealed that his team player mindset helped make everything easier.
"Being on a championship team, playing for a championship franchise, you learn teamwork and you learn leadership," O'Neal said. "You've got to have a point guard, appoint somebody to look at the books. You've got to have a shooting guard."
Shaq and Shaunie have five kids together — sons Myles, Shareef and Shaqir, and daughters Amirah and Me'arah. Myles was Shaunie's child from a previous relationship, but Shaq adopted him and treated him like his own. He also has a daughter, Taahirah, with ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbrough.
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Was Shaquille O'Neal invited to Shaunie's wedding to Keion Henderson?
Shaunie Nelson tied the knot with singer and pastor Keion Henderson back in May at Anguilla. Shaquille O'Neal was not present at the wedding, but he was invited by his ex-wife. Shaunie explained her hilarious conversation with the LA Lakers legend about the invitation in an interview with E! News.
"My daughter (Me'arah) had her sweet 16," Shaunie said. "She turned 16 in May right before the wedding, so we were at the birthday party together and he's like, 'Well, am I invited to the wedding?' And I was like, 'Of course you are.'
"And I'm rolling my eyes like, 'I mean you are, but do you really have to come?' But I mean, that's our banter, right? I know people will take that and run with it. But that's been our banter."
Shaunie and Keion Henderson started dating in February last year, but have known each other for quite a while. They got engaged in November, with their wedding documented for a special titled "Shaunie & Keion's Destination 'I Do'" on VH1.
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