Footy great Sonny Bill Williams reveals the one-word secret to his happy marriage
- Sonny Bill Williams has revealed the secret to his happy marriage
- Williams, 38, has been married to 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 footy legend telling his fans that 'privacy is priceless'.
Williams, 38, has been married to his 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 and married wife Alana in a four-week whirlwind, within the tradition of his Islamic faith. They now share four children.
And in a video posted on TikTok, Williams explained that privacy has been the secret to his long-lasting relationship.
'One of the secrets to me and my wife's longevity is shhhh,' he said, putting his finger to his lips. 'Privacy.'
Explaining his rationale, Williams said: 'You and your wife have a massive argument, you both blow a fuse. You tell each other where to go and what to do. You run to your close ones and vent. Mum, dad, best friends, even your children.
'Then 48 hours go by. You've kissed and made up, and you're over it. But you know who still isn't over it? The people you've vented to. And trust me, I've been there.
'Because let's be honest, that time when you were emotionally venting, you added some salt to the story didn't you?
Sonny Bill Williams has provided the secret to his happy marriage
The All Blacks legend has been married to wife Alana for 11 years
'And sure, they'll nod along when you patch things up, but deep down they'll hold onto that negative assumption of your partner based on what you've told them.
'Believe 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 unfolding in the public eye can have. He made headlines all over the world in 2007 following his infamous 'toilet tryst' with a then-single Candice Warner.
He was celebrating a win with teammates when he was photographed in a compromising position in a men's toilet cubicle with Warner at the Clovelly Hotel.
As Warner copped heavy heat in the press, Williams quickly moved on from the scandal became a Muslim two years later.
Williams previously revealed his life was spiralling out of control at the time of his 'humiliating' encounter with Warner.
There was an incident in a nightclub in 2007, when I fooled around with a woman in a toilet stall,' 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 made headlines around a good part of the world,' he added.
Warner went on to marry cricketer David Warner with whom she shares daughters Ivy Mae, eight, Indi Rae, seven, and Isla Rose, three.
The retired Ironwoman has since revealed she lost work and 'no one respected her' after her 'toilet tryst' was made public.
