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Shaquille O'Neal explains why some men are forced to cheat: "You're not taking care of your man"
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- Shaquille O'Neal explains why some men are forced to cheat: "You're not taking care of your man"
Shaquille O'Neal never hesitates to offer his opinion about anything or share aspects of his personal life with the public. In a recent interview, he delved into an issue that has plagued many relationships — infidelity.
The retired NBA superstar opened up about why he thinks some men are forced to cheat on their partners. According to him, it all boils down to one thing — not taking care of your significant other.
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"There's a serial cheater, the James Bond cheater and then the guy that's forced to cheat," he said .
Different types of cheaters
O'Neal took time to distinguish these, explaining that the "James Bond cheater" does his deed elsewhere and goes home to live his normal life as if nothing happened.
"James Bond cheater is, I do everything right. I'm in Rio. I see a little thing. Boom, boom, boom. Nope. Nobody sees me. Boom, boom, boom. I come back home to my normal life. Okay? He's smooth," he said.
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The Hall of Famer illustrated the "forced to cheat" one as someone who handles his business and does things the right way, but is always neglected by his significant other.
"Forced to cheat is, I've been on the road a week, and I come here and you be like, 'I can't, I gotta do my podcast.' That's the first night. 'I can't. I gotta make it.' Like, you just — four or five days in a row, you're not taking care of your man. And then he does what he does," the NBA legend continued.
O'Neal didn't clarify what a "serial cheater" is, but he did say it's not a good thing to be one.
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"Women run the world"
O'Neal emphasized that women run the world, noting that their actions have a significant influence, especially in relationships. He also mentioned that if a woman neglects her significant other, it can lead men to seek attention elsewhere.
"Women run the world, you know. Just don't know it," he said.
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"So how do we take power in that?" the host, Sarah Fontenot, asked.
"Stop talking s—t and just do it," O'Neal responded, referring to intimacy.
O'Neal has openly admitted to screwing up his previous relationships because of infidelity. He married Shaunie Henderson in 2002, but the couple divorced in 2010. O'Neal eventually admitted that he had multiple relationships with other women during their marriage.
"What's crazy is that cheating was an ego boost," he told Shaunie, as per her book Undefeated . "It wasn't even about the girl. It wasn't about me falling for someone or having feelings for her. It was about getting away with it."
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It's tough to trust O'Neal when it comes to relationship advice. Nevertheless, hearing his thoughts on such a topic is still interesting. While he may not be the best example of a faithful partner, the NBA icon does have some insights on why people cheat and how to possibly avoid it.
Related: "I'mma gain 700 pounds" – Shaquille O'Neal threatened to sabotage trade if sent to Portland
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Feb 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
