- Sonny Bill Williams has revealed the secret of his happy marriage
- Williams, 38, has been married to his wife Alana for 11 years.
- He turned his back on his party lifestyle to settle down.
Sonny Bill Williams has revealed the key to his happy marriage, with the football legend telling fans that “privacy is priceless”.
Williams, 38, has been married to wife Alana Williams (née Raffie) for 11 years after the former All Black turned his back on his partying ways to settle down.
In 2013, he met his wife Alana and married her on a four-week trip, following the tradition of his Islamic faith. They now have four children.
And in a video posted on TikTok, Williams explained that privacy has been the secret to their long-lasting relationship.
“One of the secrets of my wife’s and my longevity is silence,” he said, putting a finger to his lips. “Privacy.”
Williams explained his reasoning: ‘You and your wife argue heatedly, both of you lose your temper. You tell each other where to go and what to do. You run to your loved ones and vent – mom, dad, best friends, even your kids.
‘And then 48 hours go by. You’ve kissed and made up, and you’re over it. But you know who’s not over it yet? The people you’ve vented to. And trust me, I’ve been there.
‘Because let’s be honest, the moment you let out your emotional vent, you added some spice to the story, didn’t you?
Sonny Bill Williams has revealed the secret of his happy marriage
The All Blacks legend has been married to his wife Alana for 11 years.
‘And sure, they’ll nod along when you fix things, but deep down they’ll be holding on to that negative assumption about your partner based on what you’ve told them.
Trust me, if you want longevity in your marriage, keep your problems as your problems.
«Privacy is priceless.»
Williams is fully aware of the damage that issues brought to light can cause. She made headlines around the world in 2007 following her infamous “bathroom tryst” with then-single Candice Warner.
He was celebrating a victory with his team-mates when he was photographed in a compromising position in the men’s toilet cubicle with Warner at the Clovelly Hotel.
While Warner received heavy criticism from the press, Williams quickly put the scandal behind her and converted to Islam two years later.
Williams previously revealed her life was spiraling out of control at the time of her “humiliating” encounter with Warner.
“There was an incident at a nightclub in 2007, when I slept with a woman in the bathroom,” Williams wrote in his 2021 autobiography You Can’t Stop the Sun From Shining.
“Both she and I will have to live with that mistake for the rest of our lives. It was headline news all over the world,” he added.
Warner married cricketer David Warner, with whom she has daughters: Ivy Mae, eight, Indi Rae, seven, and Isla Rose, three.
The retired Ironwoman has since revealed she lost her job and “no one respected her” after her “bathroom tryst” became public.