Shaunie Henderson gets real about her relationships and the reality show that made her famous on this week’s episode of TV One’s Uncensored.
Henderson sat down with the interview program for a conversation about fame, love, and starting over.
The mother-of-five created, executive produced and starred on VH1’s Basketball Wives. The reality show about the partners and exes of professional basketball players was filmed in Miami, before moving to Los Angeles
Season 12 ended in July 2025. An announcement followed that the series would not return after chaos erupted among the cast members throughout the season.
In a preview clip for Uncensored, Shaunie said she launched the franchise because she lost her identity during her divorce from NBA All-Star Shaquille O’Neal.
“I was sitting amongst a lot of women that felt the same,” she said. “We want to be somebody… and I thought, ‘Let me get the ladies I know and let’s do this show.'”
Shaunie and Shaq split in 2009 and their divorce was finalized in 2011.
In another clip, she told Uncensored her reputation was destroyed during the divorce and she felt powerless.
“I wasn’t ready to play the game that was about to be played on me,” she said. “All that happens to you when you are married to somebody who’s bigger than life, right? And has all these pieces and machines that just work on their behalf that you don’t have. I wasn’t prepared to fight the machines, and the people that are there to protect him.”
She said “lies” were told about her and she had no way to control the narrative.
“I was embarrassed, continually humiliated, because it was so many lies being told, and I was the only one speaking up for me, and my voice was nothing compared to his voice,” she said. “I was feeling so ashamed that I really wanted it to be over, like okay, whatever he wants is fine. Let me just sign these papers and get out of this mess.”
In 2024, she released her memoir “Undefeated: Changing the Rules and Winning on My Own Terms.”
In the book, she said Shaq had a habit of “going missing,” and there were whispers he was with other women.
For his part, the NBA superstar said in a recent interview on “The Pivot” podcast that he made “horrible” mistakes in the marriage.
Shaunie has since moved on with her life. In 2022, she married Pastor Keion Henderson and is now first lady of The Lighthouse Church in Houston, Texas.
She also continues to run her various business ventures.
You can hear more from the entrepreneur and TV producer on Uncensored, this Thursday, March 19 at 8PM/7C on TV One.
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