Shaunie O'Neal Says 'Basketball Wives' Needs Tami Roman
Shaunie O'Neal, executive producer of "Basketball Wives," was involved in an altercation with fellow cast member Tami Roman during season five of the show but insists that the latter is vital for the show's survival.
Although Roman and O'Neal seem at odds during the upcoming season of the show, the executive producer said the show needs the controversial cast member.
"Well, Tami's personality is …it's incredible. You love her, hate her, whatever," O'Neal told S2S Magazine recently. "You can't live without some part of Tami on 'Basketball Wives.' She just brings so much to the show… There's still something about her that drives you to watching."
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In the extended trailer for the show that will debut Aug 19, O'Neal and Roman each sit with friend and cast member Evelyn Lozada to speak about one another. After one scene shows O'Neal imitating Roman, the latter tells Lozada that things may no longer be great between she and the show's executive producer.
"Now you know I love Shaunie but I will hit you in the face if it goes left ," Roman told Lozada.
O'Neal doesn't seem too fond of her former friend Roman either when speaking with Lozada while sitting with their mutual friend in another scene.
"I don't think I need to give a disclaimer for Tami. Tami is not going to act a fool again when she's already saying little stupid (expletive) comments," O'Neal told Lozada. "Grow up and shut up that's what she could do. Tami please. Bring it."
However, it seems Roman does just that at the end of the trailer when she slams her hands on a table where the women were dining, seemingly threatening O'Neal.
"Put your hand up again," Roman screams at O'Neal in the trailer for the VH1 reality television series.
After season four of the show, petitions and a public outcry were sparked after the series raised concerns about bullying at the hands of Roman and Lozada. However, O'Neal has insisted the show will tone down its violent messages and work to showcase more positivity after advertisers began to respond to protests from unhappy audiences.
"We take responsibility. After talking and seeing ourselves this season, this season was bananas," O'Neal told S2S magazine last year. "It definitely was a lot more bad than good. Even when we did have the good, the bad seemed to outweigh it."
