Over the years, Shaquille O’Neal has raved about his exes and the mothers of his six children.
O’Neal has four kids with ex-wife Shaunie Henderson (formerly known as Shaunie O’Neal) a child from a previous relationship. O’Neal shares a 26-year-old daughter with ex-girlfriend Arnetta Yardbourgh.
During a recent interview on the “2 Lies and 1 Truth” podcast, the 50-year-old disclosed that his respect for Henderson and Yardbourgh ran so deep that he refused to address or refer to them as “baby mommas.”
While praising Henderson and Yardbourgh for planning activities for their children when they were younger and acknowledging women’s overall contribution to motherhood, O’Neal said at the 12:32 mark, “Their moms did a great job of planning activities … You know you women need a lot more credit and a lot more respect because you guys do really all the work. That’s why women are the strongest beings on this planet. You guys have to do so much.”
He added, “That’s why I don’t ever use the term ‘baby mommas.’ I don’t have baby mommas. I have two beautiful gorgeous women that definitely took care of me and put up with my BS. And did a great of raising six babies.”
Toward the end of the conversation, O’Neal discloses one of the reasons why he refused to degrade the mothers of his children by calling them “baby mommas” is because of the tremendous job Henderson and Yardbourgh did raising their kids.
He said, “That’s why I don’t want to degrade them by saying baby mommas. They’re two beautiful black women that did a tremendous job.”
In the past, O’Neal opened up about his parenting style and why he didn’t find it necessary to spank any of his children.
In an interview with Yahoo Life’s: “So Mini Ways” series last month, O’Neal said, “Growing up, I was the funny disciplinarian with my children. The first thing I tell ’em is, ‘Yes, we are living like this. It’s only a small percentage that live like this.’ Then I take them around the corner to their cousin’s house and be like, ‘See what I told you. We’re here; we’re not gonna run away from it. You can keep being here, but this is what you have to do.”
He added, “I never spank my kids. I used to chase them around like I was a wild dog. ‘Didn’t I tell you to come here?’ Especially like when they were little … So it was a little different, but it worked for me.”
