Fans rallied around Shaunie O’Neal after she revealed on Instagram that she has been struggling emotionally since dropping off two of her children at college a week ago. The post featured a photo of Shaunie looking tired, with slightly puffy eyes. She wore a white top, a face mask adorned with large stars, and false lashes, while her braided hair framed her face. Behind her was a glass of wine and an off-white wall, as she rested her face in her palm. In her caption, Shaunie expressed her heartache, saying, “I had to drop two of my heartbeats off at college and honestly, I’ve had to stop myself from going back and moving in with them.”
Shaunie, who shares five children with her ex-husband Shaquille O’Neal, admitted to struggling despite her faith in God’s protection for her kids. The Basketball Wives executive producer and creator sought advice from her followers, who were quick to offer support. While one person suggested taking it one day at a time, another advised her to stay strong. The touching moment of the post came when one of her children, Shareef O’Neal, commented, “I miss you and love you, Mama.” This wasn’t the first time Shareef warmed hearts; just a year prior, he had a tattoo of his mother’s face inked on his arm, leaving many speechless.
Born in 2000, Shareef is the eldest of Shaunie and Shaquille O’Neal’s children. The couple also has Shakira, Shaqir, Amir, Assana, and Miras. Both Shaquille and Shaunie had children from previous relationships before marrying in 2002; Shaquille had a daughter, Tahira, with his ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh, and Shaunie had a son, Miles, whom Shaquille raised as his own.\
Despite their divorce, Shaquille and Shaunie have maintained a strong co-parenting relationship. This was evident in 2017 when they threw their daughter, Amira, an extravagant Sweet 16 party, reportedly costing nearly $1 million. They also gifted her a new car and arranged a performance by YG for the event. Shortly before the party, Shaunie mentioned that Shaquille would contribute to a book she was writing.
Shaquille O’Neal has been married only once, to Shaunie. Their marriage, which began in 2002, faced challenges early on, with Shaquille filing for divorce in 2007, only to withdraw the petition the following year. However, in November 2009, Shaunie filed for divorce again, and this time it was finalized in 2010. Shaquille has since expressed regret, acknowledging his role in the marriage’s breakdown. He admitted on the Pivot Podcast in April 2022 that he was at fault for the split, citing his infidelity as a major issue.
Shaquille has openly discussed his extramarital affairs, admitting that they contributed to the end of his marriage. In his 2011 memoir, “Shaq Uncut: My Story,” he downplayed his actions but has since taken full responsibility. Shaunie has also been candid about the impact of Shaquille’s infidelity on her. On a 2017 episode of Basketball Wives, she revealed discovering multiple affairs through a mix-up with her BlackBerry phone.
Despite their past difficulties, Shaquille and Shaunie have managed to forge a positive co-parenting relationship. Shaquille has expressed gratitude for Shaunie’s forgiveness, and both have acknowledged the effort required to reach their current understanding. Shaunie even humorously suggested she hoped Shaquille would find a serious partner to stop his random FaceTime calls. Shaunie invited Shaquille to her wedding with Pastor Keion Henderson in 2022, albeit in a teasing manner, and while he didn’t attend, he received the invite.
As Shaunie adjusts to her children being away at college, the support from her followers and her family’s ongoing connection highlight the strength and resilience of her journey.
