Shaq had a cryptic reaction to an excerpt from ex-wife Shaunie Henderson’s memoir in which she questioned whether she was ever truly “in love” with him.
However, on Friday, Henderson cleared the air over the quote to People, saying it was “taken out of context.”
In her book, “UNDEFEATED: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms” that was released on May 7, she wrote, “Looking back, I don’t know that I was ever really in love with the man.”
The relationship that started in the late 1990s saw the couple tie the knot in 2002, and they share four kids together — Shareef, Amirah, Shaqir and Me’arah.
“My book is my truth, and when I was talking to my friend yesterday, I was like, developing an opinion and a comment from content with no context will show you a lot of people’s intelligence and unintelligence, right?” she said. “There was no context to just that one quote that I said, and I think that sadly, people are taking my words out of context.”
“I’m not a word girl,” she added. “I’m a character girl, and since I’ve left the marriage of Shaquille, my character has spoken for itself.”
A day after the release, Shaq posted a message on Instagram in response to the quote, saying, “I understand. … I wouldn’t have been in love with me either. Wishing you all the best. All love, Shaq.”
The caption of the post also read, “Trust me I get it.”
The two also have children from previous relationships.
Henderson has a son, Myles, and Shaq has a daughter, Taahirah, with his former girlfriend, Arnetta Yardbourgh.
Henderson and Shaq separated in 2009 after a course of infidelity that Shaq admitted to in his own memoir released in 2011, “Shaq Uncut: My Story.”
Prior to the release of her memoir, Henderson told People that she was “nervous” to publicly write about Shaq because anything involving him is “always a sketchy thing because of who he is.” But, at the end of the day, she deemed it was important to “share this journey” and give some clarity against the “misconception” of her.
Henderson got married again in 2022 to current husband and “love” of her life, Keion Henderson.
“When you love somebody, you love somebody, but to be in love with somebody is a different feeling, and I will be honest, I didn’t realize that until I found the love of my life right now and I’m in this marriage,” she said. “I’m like, oh my gosh. It’s a different feeling.”
