Fans Concerned After Shaq Shares Rare Personal Message About 'Love'
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O’Neal worried some of his fans on social media after sharing a rare personal message about the difficulties of love.
The former professional basketball star shared his message on Wednesday, May 8. It appeared as a simple block of white text over a black background on Instagram.
“I understand…I wouldn’t have been in love with me either. Wishing you all the best… ❤️ All love, Shaq,” the message said.
In a caption accompanying his post, the Inside the NBA sports analyst further wrote, “trust me i get it.”
Though O’Neal, 52, didn’t provide additional context for his message, many fans believed it had something to do with his ex-wife’s new memoir. Shaunie Henderson was married to the four-time NBA champion from 2002 until their divorce was finalized in 2011. The two share four children together.
Henderson, 49, released her memoir, Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms, on May 7. In the book, the former Basketball Wives star questioned her love for O’Neal, according to an excerpt obtained by TMZ.
“Looking back, I don’t know that I was ever really in love with the man, but I was in love with the idea of being married to the man I had a family with,” the excerpt from her memoir said.
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Some of O’Neal’s fans were baffled by his rare personal message about “love,” and many left comments on Instagram expressing their concern over the confusion it caused.
“😢😢 what's going on,” one fan wanted to know.
“Naw man....who hurting the man of the People Big Diesel!?” another fan wrote, referencing one of the basketball star’s popular nicknames.
Others who appeared to have already read Henderson’s comments were defensive of O’Neal.
“I don’t know Shaq,” one Instagram user’s comment began. “But I do know that those words would’ve hurt anybody. Some things you just need to keep to yourself. But Shaq took the high road.”
"You the ONLY reason she could ever be relevant bro,” another person claimed.
“Ignore that negativity,” one fan urged. “You are loved by many.”
Next: Shaq Finally Shares His Candid Reflection About Meeting Taylor Swift at the Super Bowl
