admin
Former “Basketball Wives” star Royce Reed recently opened up about her time on the reality show and her complex relationship with the show’s executive producer, Shaunie O’Neal, who also happens to be the ex-wife of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. During a conversation with executive producer Carlos King, Reed revealed some behind-the-scenes details about her experience on the show.
Reed’s time on “Basketball Wives” came to an end in 2011 after four seasons, marked by conflicts with fellow OG stars Shaunie O’Neal, Evelyn Lozada, and Jennifer Williams. The tension reached such a peak that the trio refused to film with Reed, leading to a physical altercation between her and Lozada.
In her recent interview with Carlos King, Reed disclosed that her relationship with Shaunie was marred by issues related to Shaquille O’Neal. She shared that before the show even started, she had received text messages from Shaq, who was married at the time, attempting to communicate with her. Reed explained that nothing romantic occurred, but Shaq had cursed her out when she declined his advances. Her intention was to be transparent with Shaunie about these messages.
Reed went on to reveal that Shaq had asked another basketball player for her number while she was an NBA cheerleader, cheering for the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat. At that time, Shaq was still married to Shaunie, although they eventually divorced in 2009.
After a clip from the interview was shared on Instagram, Shaq seemed to deny any involvement, suggesting, “uh somebody needs money.”
During her time on the show, Reed also began to confide in Shaunie about personal matters. However, Reed noted that the messages she had shared with Shaunie suddenly became a topic of discussion in the show, specifically brought up by Evelyn Lozada, leaving Reed feeling betrayed by her fellow cast members.
The interview shed light on the complexities of the relationships on “Basketball Wives,” and Reed’s revelations hinted at a lack of trust among the cast members. Reed ultimately realized that she had no true friends among the group.
It’s unclear whether Shaq’s advances toward Reed were a factor in her departure from the show, but Shaunie had previously stated in a 2011 interview that Reed’s storyline had lost its connection, leading to her exit.
The feud between Reed and Lozada, which began when Reed missed Lozada’s birthday party and never provided an explanation, escalated during the show’s second season. Their intense altercation, which included name-calling and the throwing of objects, marked the end of any attempts at reconciliation between the two women.
