WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Sports Story episode 9.

The penultimate episode of FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez depicts Aaron Hernadnez’s ex-fiancee Shayanna Jenkins sitting with Hernandez’s mother during his murder trial over her own flesh and blood. American Sports Story episode 9 “What’s Left Behind” places Hernandez’s ex-fiancee Shayanna Jenkins in the hot seat as she chooses to defend Hernandez through his arrest and murder conviction. The contents of the box that Hernandez asked Shayanna to dispose of remain a mystery in both the series and in reality.

Since the first two episodes of American Sports Story, the life and NFL career of Aaron Hernandez were headed toward a tragic and frightening endpoint that resulted in the former New England Patriot and star tight end receiving a lifetime prison sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd. From his emergence as an offensive weapon on Urban Meyer’s legendary yet controversial Florida Gators team and receiving the coveted John Mackey Award, Hernandez began his life sentence on April 15, 2015, just months after the Patriots won their fourth franchise Super Bowl.

Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez Sat With Aaron’s Family In Court In Real Life

Shayanna’s sister Shaena viewed it as a blatant betrayal

As depicted in American Sports Story epsiode 9, Shayanna chose to sit on Hernandez’s side of the court during his murder trial rather than on the prosecution’s side with her sister, Shaena. This fact is accurate to real life and not just something that the show made up for dramatic purposes. Shayanna chose to support Hernadnez throughout his legal issues in order to keep their family unit intact with their daughter, Aiveee, at the center. Shaena, who was dating Lloyd when Hernandez killed him, viewed it as a blatant betrayal.

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American Sports Story Episode 9 True Story: What The Show Changes

The penultimate episode of American Sports Story depicts Shayanna’s response to Hernandez’s arrest and alters several aspects of the murder trial.

The real-life Shayanna Jenkins testified that she and her sister Shaena were not on speaking terms during Hernandez’s murder trial. This is a direct result of Shayanna’s decision to stand by Hernandez throughout his arrest, conviction, and all the way up to his death by suicide in 2017. American Sports Story episode 9 recreates the true scenario in which Shayanna and Hernandez’s mom Terri sobbed together in court following Hernandez’s guilty verdict. On the other side of the court were Shaena and Lloyd’s mother, Ursula Ward.

The Reason Shayanna Sat On Aaron Hernandez’s Side Of The Court

She was one of his few “ride or die” supporters

American Sports Story episode 9 portrays Shayanna being loyal to Hernandez until the very end. Despite the show implying that Hernandez was upset at Shayanna for testifying against Hernandez in exchange for immunity regarding removing the suspicious box, there is no record of Hernandez blaming his then-fiancee for his circumstances. Shayanna had an incredibly difficult decision to make between her given family and chosen family because of Hernandez’s violent criminal acts. Ultimately, much like his cousin Tanya Singleton who was nearly sent to prison for refusing to testify, she did not want to abandon the father of her child in American Sports Story.

American Sports Story is a TV show from Stu Zicherman and executive produced by Ryan Murphy. The series stars Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow. The sports anthology series serves as the fourth installment in Murphy’s “American Story” franchise.

Cast

Josh Andrés Rivera , Patrick Schwarzenegger

Character(s)

Shaneah Jenkins , Shayanna Jenkins , Aaron Hernandez , Tanya Singleton , Terri Hernandez , ‘Chris’ , Dennis Hernandez , Urban Meyer , Tim Tebow , Carlos ‘Charlie Boy’ Ortiz , Alexander Sherrod , Ernest ‘Bo’ Wallace , Steve Addazio , Dennis Sansoucie , Jeff Cummings , Sports Reporter , Mr. Marzigalli , Coach Morgan , Uncle Bobby , DJ Hernandez (Age 4) , Emcee , Basketball Player , Trainer , Principal Seligman , Pastor

Release Date

September 17, 2024

Seasons

1

Writers

Ryan Farley , Liz Tuccillo , Tracey Scott Wilson

Directors

Paris Barclay , Carl Franklin

Producers

Brad Simpson , Scott Robertson , Nellie Reed , Lee Edward Colston , Todd Nenninger , Tanase Popa , Hernan Lopez , Eric Kovtun , Hadi Nicholas Deeb , Gail Barringer , Ira Napoliello , Matthew Hodgson , Carl Franklin , Sara Stelwagen , Nina Jacobson , Marshall Lewy , David Woods , Alexis Martin Woodall , Tyson Bidner , Stuart Zicherman , Ryan Murphy , Monica Levinson , Lou Eyrich

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