Aaron Hernandez Wife Explained: Who Was Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez?
If you’ve searched Aaron Hernandez’s wife, you’re not alone—and you’re also not wrong to be confused. The name most people are looking for is Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, the longtime partner and fiancée of former NFL player Aaron Hernandez. Although many online sources casually refer to her as his wife, most reputable reporting describes her as his fiancée, not his legal spouse. Understanding that distinction helps clear up years of mixed terminology and gives a more accurate picture of who she is and how she fits into Hernandez’s life story.
The Short Answer
The woman often called “Aaron Hernandez’s wife” is Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez. However, they were engaged, not legally married. They shared a daughter and a long relationship that began before Hernandez’s NFL fame, which is why the “wife” label became common shorthand over time.
Who Is Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez?
Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez is best known publicly as Aaron Hernandez’s former fiancée and the mother of his child. Unlike many people connected to high-profile athletes, she did not seek the spotlight. For much of her life, she remained private, becoming widely known only as Hernandez’s legal troubles and later media coverage brought renewed attention to his personal life.
Those who follow the story closely often note that Jenkins-Hernandez appears in public only at specific moments—such as responding to documentaries, major news events, or speaking about issues that affect their daughter. Outside of those moments, she has largely avoided building a public-facing celebrity identity.
Their Relationship Timeline
One reason people are so interested in Jenkins-Hernandez is how long her relationship with Aaron Hernandez lasted. According to multiple major profiles, the two met in childhood and began dating in their teenage years. That means their relationship existed long before Hernandez became a star tight end in the NFL.
They became engaged in 2012, a year that also marked a major milestone in their personal lives. By that point, Hernandez was already a prominent figure in professional football, and Jenkins-Hernandez had been part of his life through years of transition—from adolescence to adulthood and from relative anonymity to national attention.
Their Child and Family Life
Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez and Aaron Hernandez share a daughter named Avielle, born in 2012. Public references to Avielle are generally limited and careful, reflecting Jenkins-Hernandez’s desire to keep her child’s life as private as possible.
When Jenkins-Hernandez does speak publicly, it is often framed around protecting Avielle from the emotional weight of media attention. Occasional tribute posts or family references tend to focus on remembrance, resilience, and moving forward rather than revisiting details of Hernandez’s past.
Why People Call Her “Aaron Hernandez’s Wife”
The confusion around the word “wife” didn’t happen randomly. There are a few clear reasons why the label stuck.
First, Jenkins-Hernandez and Hernandez were engaged, lived as a family, and had a child together. To many casual observers, that looks indistinguishable from marriage.
Second, Jenkins later legally added “Hernandez” to her surname, becoming Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez. She reportedly did this so that she would share the same last name as her daughter. To readers who encounter her name without context, this can easily be mistaken for a married name.
Finally, search habits play a role. When people want quick answers, they often default to “wife” rather than “fiancée,” even when the latter is more accurate. Over time, repetition turns shorthand into assumed fact.
Life After Aaron Hernandez’s Death
After Aaron Hernandez died in prison in 2017, Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez became a focal point of renewed media attention. At that time, she publicly expressed shock and questioned the circumstances surrounding his death, saying she initially believed reports of his passing were not real.
Since then, her public appearances and statements have been limited and purposeful. She has spoken out at moments when documentaries or media portrayals reignited public discussion—particularly when she felt narratives were incomplete or potentially harmful to her daughter.
Importantly, she has not positioned herself as a constant commentator on Hernandez’s legacy. Instead, she appears selectively, often emphasizing empathy, understanding, and the human cost of turning personal tragedy into entertainment.
Speaking Out After Documentaries and Media Coverage
Jenkins-Hernandez has addressed public narratives a handful of times, especially after high-profile documentaries brought Hernandez’s story back into the spotlight. In some interviews, she spoke about wishing she had been able to tell Hernandez certain things directly, particularly in response to renewed discussions about his personal struggles.
More recently, she has criticized public jokes or commentary that she felt crossed a line, especially when those remarks affected her child. These moments underline a consistent theme in her public stance: when she speaks, it’s usually to set boundaries or to advocate for compassion rather than to relive the past.
Where Is Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez Now?
Because Jenkins-Hernandez values privacy, definitive answers about her current life are limited. What can be said with confidence is that she maintains a relatively low profile and prioritizes her role as a mother.
When she does appear publicly, it’s often through rare social media posts, family tributes, or responses to major media moments. Beyond that, most details about her work, location, or daily life are not widely reported—and speculation tends to do more harm than good.
Featured Image Source: nypost
