We’ve watched Shaunie O’ Neal rise from the seven foot shadow of her former husband Shaquelle O’ Neal and emerge as a successful and respected businesswoman. She created an entertainment empire, spearheaded by the “Basketball Wives” franchise that spawned countless spin-offs. There would be no “Love & Hip Hop” if she hadn’t reopened the floodgates for reality TV shows post “For The Love Of…”.
Five seasons in to “BBall Wives,” Shaunie finds herself opening up and allowing audiences to see the “real” her, the funny woman who plays kick ball with her kids and goes on movie dates with her (fine) younger man.
Shaunie has faced wheelbarrows of controversy surrounding the drama and violence on the popular VH1 show. Shaunie was blamed for Evelyn Lozada and Tami Roman’s reckless and immature behavior, last season. Vowing to take a new approach this time around, Shaunie did some fall cleaning and promised that she and her cast of household names, would be better.
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We’re four episodes in to “Basketball Wives,” and with plenty drama to fuel the masses, it’s clear that Shaunie, Tami, Ev and Suzie are learning as they go. We caught up with Shaunie, who recently launched a jewelry line “Forever Shaunie” in collaboration with Simone I. Smith that features hand-crafted statement pieces adorned in 18 Karat Gold over Sterling silver and encrusted with the finest Austrian crystals, in Macy’s.
MUST SEE: Shaunie O’Neal Expanding Her Empire To A Jewelry Line [VIDEO]
She dished on everything, from Evelyn Lozada’s domestic abuse incident with Chad Ochocinco to Miley Cyrus’s VMA performance and everything in between. Pull out your cellphone while you shop Shaunie’s line at Macys, and catch up with the “Basketball Wives” producer:
HelloBeautiful: Last season you caught a lot of flack for the drama that happened, and this time around you said you were going to reveal the “real” you. What made you decide to do that and was that a tactic to back down the haters?
Shaunie O’ Neal: I wouldn’t say it’s a tactic. I think everyone has something to say regardless. If it’s too dramatic, they have something to say. If it’s not dramatic enough, they have something to say and I realize that. I just feel like, at this point, I probably just didn’t speak up enough. Previous seasons, I kind of sat back and was like whatever, ya know, I’m here and I’m doing my job.
If you really want to know me, that’s really me and my kids. As far as my personality, Evelyn and Tami have a such a strong personality that it’s very easy to sit back and just let them go and not really have much to say. But Evelyn and I talk, pretty much everyday outside of television and what you guys see. She’s always like ‘O-M-G, if people only knew that you say some of the funniest stuff ever, or the conversations that we have.’ I was like, you know what, maybe I’ll just bring that to TV a little more and it be a little more organic.
MUST READ: Will Tami Roman Have To Hit Someone In The Face? ‘Basketball Wives’ [RECAP]
HB: You do seem a little more outspoken and upfront, a few episodes ago, you and Tammy bumped heads. One part stood out to me. She was very upset about the comment, “It can go really right or really wrong,” and you told her ‘I stick by that.’ You are taking more of a stance.
Shaunie: Absolutely. I really don’t see and didn’t see it as negative, but I could understand where she was coming from. I think it comes in a place where she’s defensive about her past. I think anything said is kind of a touchy thing with her. Maybe it was negative in someone’s eyes, but I don’t feel that way. I still stand by what I said. At the end of the day it didn’t make a negative impression, so why the hell was it an issue at all?
HB: Tasha Marbury made a comment about Evelyn Lozada wearing a helmet on her next date. Domestic violence isn’t really something to joke about. What made it worse, was that Susie was there and laughed. How do you think Susie should have handled that situation?
Shaunie: Well it definitely wasn’t funny. It’s definitely uncomfortable. That’s not the only moment that it happens (keep watching). Apparently Susie actually thought it was funny. It was asked of her and she did think it was a joke. Tasha has a very different sense of humor. You’ll find her constantly saying ‘I was just joking’ and it tends to be inappropriate at times or bad timing. I don’t know how Susie should have dealt with it but it’s definitely not for giggles or to laugh at. It’s just not funny under any circumstance.
MUST READ: Tami Roman Faces Off With Evelyn Lozada ‘Basketball Wives’ [RECAP]
HB: You’re watching the show with the rest of the world. You saw Evelyn go to counseling with the woman who counseled her and Chad. Did you find it odd that she was kind of putting the blame on Ev?
Shaunie: Ev gets from everybody. A lot of people say that to her. We see it on Twitter and social media where people are like, ‘You were probably talking crazy’ or doing this or that. I was really shocked that the counselor did it. People really kind of blame her. At the end of the day it definitely doesn’t justify a head butt. I like Chad, I always have, I never had a problem with Chad but I was never around him like that. I got to know him at the few outings we had. I’m not going to judge anybody, we all make mistakes. At the same time, Evelyn is my friend, I support her. I want her to be safe. I don’t ever want to get a phone call like that again. I definitely support her staying away.
HB: What’s up with “Basketball Wives: LA”?
Shaunie: They’re actually taping now, maybe about three weeks in, now.
HB: Are the Jovan sisters still there?
Shaunie: No mam!
HB: Did you see when Gloria and Matt Barne got married that she walked down the aisle to 2 Pac?
Shaunie: No I didn’t see that, but I did hear about it. Interesting. She gets an “A” for originality.
HB: Do you watch any of the other VH1 reality shows like “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta”?
Shaunie: I actually do watch “L&HH”
HB: Who’s your favorite character?
Shaunie: Hmm… For entertainment purposes I love Stevie J and Joseline. How can you not. I really like them, Those two really give me a good ol’ entertaining evening.
HB: Do you believe in their love story, the whole triangle?
Shaunie: I’ve witnessed a lot but never anything like that. You might be in a love triangle and not know about it. But to be cognizant of it, I never can understand that one. But it makes for great television.
HB: You date a very handsome young man. What are some of the perks?
Shaunie: Well I have to say, because he’s much younger, he has way more energy than I do, which keeps me going. Let me not say I don’t have energy. I’m always on the go, but I think I’m always on the go being mommy and with work and things like that. He definitely brings out another side of me. He’s like ‘let’s just have fun. Let’s go to the movies and just hang out with friends.’ He’s forced a social life in there a little more than what I had before. With five kids, and being on mommy mode all the time, I tend to lose that part. My kids love him. He’s an old man in a young man’s body. Not an old man [Laughs] but he’s mature for his age. He’s real chill.
HB: Have you ever had one of those “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” moments like when Taye Diggs went to put the ice on her back, and Angela Bassett was like “Whoa.”
Shaunie: [LAUGHS] No, no, no. I haven’t reached that point where I’m that damn old. Sometimes I think we even each other out. He’s very athletic. He works out all the time and my athletic ability used to be great but now I don’t really care that much. I’ll shoot hoops with my son and catch rebounds, but that’s about it.
HB: You have a daughter, what are you thoughts on Miley Cyrus?
Shaunie: I sat through that performance at the VMAs, really with my mouth was open. It’s funny because my son was sneak recording me. He already seen it so he was like I want to watch when you watch it. My mouth was open and I was like what is happening with Hannah Montana right now. I know she’s not Hannah Montana, I actually met Miley Cyrus and she’s a sweet girl. I don’t know what that was. I’m really confused on if she just like “I’m not a Disney girl anymore, I’m a grown woman” but she went hard. I could definitely understand and respect you being a woman now, without all of that.
