The recent unveiling of a statue to honor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nba">NBA</a> star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade">Dwyane Wade</a> by the Miami Heat quickly sparked reactions from fans, who mostly agreed the tribute looks nothing like the man himself.
The statue was commissioned by the Heat and created by sculptors Omri Amrany and Oscar León from Rotblatt Amrany Studio. It was intended to celebrate Wade’s lasting impact on the franchise, but many fans saw nothing but the fact that the features didn’t resemble Wade.
Wade was honored with a ceremony, and the new statue was unveiled outside the Kaseya Center in Miami on Sunday. The statue is supposed to be of Wade doing the &#8220;This is my house&#8221; pose, per <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/miami-heat-dwyane-wade-statue-roasted">Sports Illustrated</a>.
“The Miami Heat should’ve had a contest where they showed this picture to 1,000 fans — and anyone who guesses it’s Dwyane Wade gets to keep the statue,” one social media user <a href="https://x.com/JeffDarlington/status/1850668926671241616">wrote</a> on X.
“This statue is so bad it’s making me forget what Dwayne [sic] Wade actually looks like,” another comment <a href="https://x.com/OG_Rad_Hatter/status/1850663483488239826">said</a>. “The longer I look, the harder it is for me to picture his real face.”
“They did him dirty with that sculpture. In no way does that remotely look like Dwyane Wade,” another wrote.
“Why is Dwayne Wade [sic] unveiling a statue of Laurence Fishburne??” another wondered.
<a href="https://www.amiracist.com/?_gl=1*jtghwp*_gcl_au*ODQ1NjYzNTg2LjE3Mjg5MDk3OTE.*_ga*MTc2NzM0NDQ2NS4xNzI4OTA5Nzkx*_ga_CZKR9ZYKJP*MTczMDEyMDgwOS40OS4xLjE3MzAxMjA4MzkuMzAuMC4w">MATT WALSH’S ‘AM I RACIST?’ NOW STREAMING ON DAILYWIRE+</a>
Wade also seemed to react to the lack of resemblance, saying during his speech, “Like that’s crazy, I can’t believe it, like who is that guy?” while gesturing towards the statue. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Dwayne Wade on his statue: 
“WHO’S THAT GUY.” 😭😭😭 <a href="https://t.co/NGL7ZN2NYX">pic.twitter.com/NGL7ZN2NYX</a>
&mdash; NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheNBACentel/status/1850662727477235726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Wade was not the first athlete to see a statue meant to resemble him go viral for the wrong reason.
A bronze bust of NFL star Peyton Manning made headlines after its unveiling in 2021, with fans saying it didn’t even come close to capturing the look of the former top pick of the NFL draft. 
Soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo was honored with a bronze bust that was mocked for looking nothing like him, leading to his brother having a new statue <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2781589-ronaldo-sculptor-emanuel-santos-devastated-as-bust-swapped-at-madeira-airport">commissioned</a> just one year after its unveiling in 2017. 
&nbsp;

Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade Statue Mocked By Fans Who Say It Looks Nothing Like Him

Celebrities

Florida

Miami

Sports

Statues

U.S.

Society seems to be slowly chipping away at the institution of marriage. Progressive marriages are becoming more popular every day. Women are keeping their last names rather than taking their husband’s name. Husbands and wives are choosing not to have children because couples are declaring they do not want kids to “disrupt” how they live or impose on their financial security or hinder their travels around the world. Once upon a time, people got married to begin their own family, but now, that seems not to even be a consideration, which leaves me wondering why people are even getting married anymore.
Another phenomenon in this same vein is on the rise: Married couples do not want to blend their individual finances. This brings me to Gabrielle Union-Wade and Dwyane Wade. They have publicly discussed their marriage and their finances, which they split 50/50. Their version of splitting 50/50 means they split costs down the middle; they each pull from their separate accounts to make purchases. They do not combine finances; he has his money and she has hers. To me, this sounds more like what you do when you get divorced. So if this is how people are handling marriage these days — and it seems like more and more people are — then why even get married?
This marriage is definitely not traditional. Union, for example, did not want to lose her last name, so she chose to hyphenate: Union-Wade. They are raising Wade’s 16-year-old son from a previous relationship as a girl, who they are now calling Zaya, despite the fact Zaya’s mother, Siohvaughn, argues Zion is her son and is fighting them in court. Then in 2018, they chose surrogacy to have their child, Kaavia James. So, they have done some things differently in their marriage.
But the cherry on top was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXifG9fYAww" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the interview Union did with Bloomberg</a>. In this interview, she says everything in her household is split 50/50: “It’s weird to say I’m head of household because in this household, we split everything 50/50. But in the other households that each of us has to support, it puts this — there’s always like this gorilla on your back that’s like, ‘You better work! You better work! You want to sleep in? Somebody might not eat.’ And it’s hard.” To be clear, Gabrielle Union is worth about $50 million. Her husband, Dwyane Wade, is worth around $175 million.
Part of what made this interview so compelling and why it went viral is Wade’s net worth. Union says she feels like a gorilla is on her back to support her household when her husband is quite literally worth $175 million. This is bizarre. A couple weeks after Union’s interview, Wade answered some follow-up questions about this on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heSWnZ89qWo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Club Shay Shay podcast</a> saying, “I said something about it being my house that I paid for. My wife looked at me, and she was like, ‘You will never say that again when it’s something that we share.’ So when we moved to L.A., my wife said, ‘I got half on it. You will never say ‘my house’ again.’” He continues in the interview and says their purchases are all 50/50 — their home, anything for their child, anything in their lives — unless the responsibility falls solely to one person.
Wade stipulates there are some responsibilities like Union’s mother, her sisters, her dad — “she has a lot of things she’s responsible for” — that she pays 100% for. Dwyane Wade laughed a lot in this interview while talking about this topic, but does Union seem comfortable when saying she feels such stress because she knows she has other people to take care of? This is not a rational way to think in a marriage. This is not two people becoming one, but two people who have agreed they are comfortable being roommates for a long time.
I know that it has become common for people to normalize things that are so very clearly abnormal. But we should all address the fact this is not something that should be normalized. You are paying for your child as if you are divorced and there is a custody split. Enrolling your child in a private school, paying 50% of the semester while your spouse pays the other 50% of the semester, and taking this money from two separate accounts is not the way to handle finances in a marriage. Wade is professing this as though it’s cool and chic and forward-thinking — but it’s not.
So, what is the purpose of marriage? Marriage is when two people become one. However, now couples are changing what it even means to become one. They do not view marriage as a partnership or a family. Rather, they view marriage as an opportunity for Instagram moments. I think a lot of people get married because they want to have a wedding and post on social media. Couples date for seven years, then finally get married. And even if everyone wonders if they should have gotten married, the general thought is usually: What else were they going to do? She wants a ring, her wedding, and a white dress, and they need to take the tourist hand shot and she-said-yes photo we all see on Instagram after the engagement.
Another reason people seem to get married today is to resolve insecurities. In reality, people do not want to be alone — but that does not mean loneliness disappears once married. Maybe one in the pair experienced a bad relationship in the past or a horrific breakup and they think they will be safe in a marriage because it requires more commitment. After all, it is more difficult to break up a marriage and get lawyers involved. And then there is the obvious: Married couples get tax incentives. They think it makes more sense to be married for the tax break, rather than just agreeing to be roommates.
This is a conversation worth having because I believe if we talk about the corrosion of family values in society, we also need to know and understand that people are not even aspiring to have a family anymore, even when they are entering a union that is meant to represent family. The corrosive elements of these partnerships display anything but God, faith, and the core institution of family.

Candace_3b16x9 copy 12 (2)

Splitting Finances: Stop Normalizing Marriages That Function Like Divorce

Candace Owens

finance

Gabrielle Union

Marriage

Readers Pass

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> Democrats are hoping for some Magic in Florida&#8217;s 2024 Senate race, and hoping that basketball greats can put the Heat on Republican <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/rick-scott" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rick Scott</a>.
Party donors and operatives are trying to recruit NBA legends Grant Hill and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwyane Wade</a> to run against Scott in 2024, according to a report from <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/grant-hill-dwayne-wade-democrats-senate-florida-rick-scott-rcna83401" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NBC News</a>. Hill starred for the Orlando Magic in the 2000s, and Wade spent nearly all of his playing career with the Miami Heat, including 3 Championship runs with the team. Wade left the state after he retired, but claimed in April that his family &#8220;wouldn&#8217;t feel welcome&#8221; in his former home state due to increasingly anti-LBGT policies.
“Grant Hill has great name ID. He would raise a boatload of money and is one of the smartest guys you will ever meet,” attorney John Morgan told NBC News. Morgan is a national Democratic donor and a business partner of Hill&#8217;s who has reportedly talked directly with him about a potential run. “Grant Hill would beat the s*** out of Rick Scott,” he said.
Morgan said he brought up the prospect with two other Democratic activists at a dinner on Sunday. “I’m not sure it’s his time, but he would be great,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He’s competitive. I think he sees LeBron James as a billionaire and Magic Johnson almost a billionaire, and it gets his competitive juices flowing. I am not sure he is done with business.”
Hill is an NBA Hall of Fame guard/forward who played for the Orlando Magic from 2000-2007, and still lives in the Orlando area. He is a part-owner of the Atlanta Hawks, and an analyst for CBS and their affiliates. He is also a successful real estate developer, and has several lucrative endorsement deals. Hill has also been active in politics, supporting John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton&#8217;s presidential campaigns.
Democratic donors are also talking about recruiting Wade, who played 13 seasons with the Miami Heat and won championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013. Besides being a legend in Florida Sports, Wade is also an advocate for transgenderism. In <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-dwyane-wade-says-12-year-old-trans-son-changed-her-name-ellen-degeneres-praises-him-on-parenting-skills" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2020</a>, Wade declared that his preteen son, Zion, had come out as a transgender girl named Zaya. Wade called the child a &#8220;leader&#8221; in the LGBT community, and said he and his wife are proud LGBT &#8220;allies.&#8221;
But Wade, who <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-said-he-left-florida-because-family-wouldnt-be-accepted-or-feel-comfortable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">left the state</a> after he retired from the NBA, said in April that recent legislation would make a potential return uncomfortable. He specifically pointed to Florida HB 1557, the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which prohibited schools from talking about gender and sexuality from grades K-3. The bill has been mischaracterized by the Left as the &#8220;Don&#8217;t Say Gay&#8221; bill.&#8221;
“That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” Wade told sports journalist Rachel Nichols. “A lot of people don’t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions. I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that’s one of the reasons why I don’t live there.&#8221;
“Dwyane Wade is a Florida legend, whose leadership past and present has a lot of folks in our state sending feelers out,” Ray Paultre, the executive director of the progressive donor coalition Florida Alliance, told NBC News. “We have seen former athletes, in both parties, bring something special to the political landscape. He hasn’t been officially approached, but he is on the list of four or five dream candidates to challenge Rick Scott.&#8221;
Scott narrowly defeated Democrat Bill Nelson in 2018, 50.1%-49.9%. But the state has shifted rightward since then; Scott&#8217;s Republican colleague, Marco Rubio, won his race last year by a massive margin 57%-41%, and Governor Ron DeSantis won re-election by an even larger margin, 59%-40%.

Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill

Dwyane Wade Said Anti LGBTQ Policies Drove Him From Florida — Now He’s Being Recruited To Run For Senate

NBA Greats Grant Hill, Ex-Floridian Dwyane Wade Eyed As Potential Rick Scott Challengers In 2024: Report

2024 Election

Democrats

Rick Scott

U.S. Senate

Former NBA player Dwyane Wade claimed recently that his family left Florida over LGBTQ policies — particularly those implemented by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis — but that wasn&#8217;t what he said when he actually left the state in 2019.
Wade, whose biological son began identifying as transgender in 2020, <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-family-motivation-having-left-florida-exclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told Rachel Nichols</a> on &#8220;Headliners&#8221; that policies like Florida&#8217;s HB 1557 were a part of the reason he believed his family would not &#8220;feel comfortable&#8221; in Florida.
&#8220;That&#8217;s another reason why I don&#8217;t live in that state,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-said-he-left-florida-because-family-wouldnt-be-accepted-or-feel-comfortable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he said</a>, adding, &#8220;A lot of people don&#8217;t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions. I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that&#8217;s one of the reasons why I don&#8217;t live there.&#8221;
But when Wade first moved from Florida to Los Angeles in 2019, <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-kids-parenting-los-angeles-move-from-miami-exclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">his reasoning</a> was quite a bit simpler: he had retired from the NBA, and his wife — actress Gabrielle Union — had a job in Los Angeles.
&#8220;We miss Miami,&#8221; Wade told People Magazine in February of 2020, noting that the family had moved from the east coast to the west coast shortly after he had retired from the NBA a year earlier. &#8220;Of course, that definitely had become home to us, especially my kids. But my wife works in L.A., my daughters lived in L.A. with my wife, so we’ve got to go. My home is where my family is.&#8221;
Wade has also gone through a series of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-responds-to-ex-wife-objecting-to-childs-gender-change-this-isnt-a-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">public battles</a> with his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, over their shared child&#8217;s gender identity. Funches-Wade has claimed that Wade embraced the gender and name change for the money that could come with it — and Wade has denied that.
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&#8220;Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,&#8221; Wade said via Instagram. &#8220;While I’m on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children.&#8221;
&#8220;While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously find ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children,&#8221; Wade continued.

2023 Naismith Hall Of Fame Press Conference

Dwyane Wade Blamed LGBTQ Policies For Leaving Florida — That’s Not What He Said 4 Years Ago

Dwyane Wade Blamed LGBTQ Policies For Leaving Florida — That's Not What He Said 4 Years Ago

LGBTQ

Ron DeSantis

Social Issues

Former NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade">Dwyane Wade</a> said he moved his family out of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida">Florida</a> due to concern for his trans-identifying child.
The former Miami Heat player told Rachel Nichols in an interview on &#8220;Headliners&#8221; that he left the state because his family would not &#8220;feel comfortable there.&#8221; Nichols asked Wade specifically about controversial legislation and politicians in the state, including House Bill 1557.
&#8220;That&#8217;s another reason why I don&#8217;t live in that state,&#8221; Wade told Nicholas, per <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-family-motivation-having-left-florida-exclusive/">People</a>. &#8220;A lot of people don&#8217;t know that. I have to make decisions for my family, not just personal, individual decisions.”
&#8220;I mean, obviously, the tax [situation] is great. Having Wade County is great. But my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there. And so that&#8217;s one of the reasons why I don&#8217;t live there,&#8221; he said.
The 41-year-old is married to actress Gabrielle Union. One of their children, Zaya, identified as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> in 2020, which led to the pair becoming advocates for the cause.
HB 1557 is also called the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which opponents have mischaracterized by dubbing it the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The legislation prohibits educators from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with children in kindergarten through third grade. 
Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the media portrayal of the bill last year, saying, “… there’s this massive gulf between what it actually says with respect to these very young kids versus what some of these protests in the capital or whatever are about.” 
“And I get it, if you are intentionally just trying to create a political narrative and you know it’s not true, but you still do it, that’s unfortunately the world we live in.”
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Wade has expressed his support for transgender rights before. Last June, he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-says-he-fears-for-transgender-childs-safety-every-moment-slams-laws-banning-gender-affirming-procedures-for-kids">told</a> CNN’s Poppy Harlow that he fears for trans-identifying children as more states seek to ban “gender-affirming care.”
The former basketball pro also questioned why we’re not “educating our kids” in schools on trans issues. “You can’t close the book on what someone wants, and how they feel they are,” Wade said at the time. “I just don’t understand.”

Better Brothers Los Angeles’ 6th Annual Truth Awards

Dwyane Wade Said He Left Florida Because Family Wouldn’t Be ‘Accepted’ Or ‘Feel Comfortable’

Dwyane Wade Said He Left Florida Because Family Wouldn't Be 'Accepted' Or 'Feel Comfortable'

Transgender

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dwyane Wade</a> is one celebrity of many who happens to have a trans-identifying child. While the former NBA star’s current wife, actress Gabrielle Union, is supportive of the child’s shifting names and pronouns, the Wade family is now meeting resistance from someone unexpected: the child’s mother.
Following his retirement from professional sports, Wade has become a social activist with the specific cause of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trans rights</a>. He adamantly <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/popculture/dwyane-wade-court-petition-for-transgender-daughter-zaya-name-change-rcna45010" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defended</a> Zaya’s right to “be her best self.” But which parent will prevail in this fight?
For some background: Wade married his high school girlfriend Siohvaughn Funches-Wade in 2002 and they went on to have two children, Zaire and Zion (who is currently going by Zaya). The couple broke up in 2007 and officially divorced in 2010 following a bitter court battle. Wade was granted sole custody of his two children in 2011. 
The former NBA star began dating Union in 2008. They briefly broke up in 2013, at which point Wade impregnated his friend Aja Metoyer, who gave birth to son Xavier. Wade and Union got back together and married the following year. They had daughter Kaavia via surrogate in 2018 following several miscarriages. 
In 2011, Wade was also awarded full custody of his nephew, Dahveon.
The Wades’ social activism campaign began during a February 2020 guest appearance on &#8220;The Ellen DeGeneres Show,&#8221; which is when the pro basketball player announced that one of his children identified as transgender.
“We are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud allies, as well,” Wade told DeGeneres.
&#8220;Our (then) 12-year-old came home &#8230; and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I&#8217;m ready to live my truth and I want to be referenced as she and her and I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,’&#8221; he continued.
&#8220;We’re just trying to figure out as much information as we can to make sure that we give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Dwyane Wade’s Candid Talk About Supporting His 12-Year-Old&#039;s Gender Identity" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AG9-Q6UabfQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Host Ellen DeGeneres praised Wade for being a “loving and supportive” father to Zaya as her talk show audience erupted in applause.
The following month, Wade kept publicizing what was going on with his family by “reintroducing” his child to the world during the Better Brothers LA Truth Awards.
“Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!” Wade captioned a photo of Zaya wearing a bright green tuxedo jacket and pink sash.
“Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her,” the 23-time NBA All-Star wrote. “She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. #truthawards.”
At the event, Wade explained the process of affirming Zaya following the child expressing a new preferred gender.
“When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that weren’t as educated about the LGBTQ+ plus community as we should have been,” Wade <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>.
The former NBA player said he and Union turned to a “male couple” to help them “navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for” going forward.
“They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,” Wade continued. 
“From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya’s comfort and her confidence.”
It wasn’t long before Wade went from advocating for his own child to speaking out against laws prohibiting trans-affirming surgeries for minors. 
He told CNN host Poppy Harlow that he disagrees with legislation that would make “gender-affirming” procedures on children illegal. He also disagreed with athletes being required to compete in categories that correspond with their biological sex.
“To me, it’s a joke. This is our life,” Wade said in June. “We live this. When you’re out there making rules, if you’re not experiencing this, if you’re not living this, and you’re just out there signing away and making laws, that’s not right. That’s a joke.” 
“Come and live a day in my world with my daughter. Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her,” he continued. “I just think we’re losing the human side of us.” 
“As blessed as it is for my daughter to have parents who can support her, I’m still afraid every moment she leaves the house,” Wade said. “And not just because of gun violence, but because of the way people perceive her in this world.”
The basketball pro also questioned why we’re not “educating our kids” in schools on trans issues. “You can’t close the book and what someone wants, and how they feel they are,” Wade said. “I just don’t understand.”
Now the most recent drama in the former Olympic competitor’s life involves his ex-wife, Zaya’s mother, trying to slow down her child’s transition process through legal proceedings.
Funches-Wade filed court documents to block Zaya from legally changing their name and gender before the age of 18, The Daily Wire originally <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-greats-ex-begs-court-to-block-their-trans-kids-gender-change-says-dad-positioned-to-profit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,” the legal filing says. 
“(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,” it went on.
“I am concerned that our child is being commercialized at a young age and also of the uncontrollable consequences of media exposure i.e. cyberbullying, statements and/or pictures taken out of context of our child, and the unwanted spotlight focused on our child.”
Wade disagrees with those allegations and issued a lengthy statement on Instagram <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-responds-to-ex-wife-objecting-to-childs-gender-change-this-isnt-a-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defending</a> his position.
“Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,” Wade wrote in the post. “While I’m on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children.”
“While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously find ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children,” he continued. 
The post went on to allege that Funches-Wade wasn’t involved in Zaya’s life at all, and that she doesn’t know the situation.
“Zaya is not that same 3 year child anymore and she’s screaming that to the world but most importantly to her Mother! No one in our house would ever force Zaya or any of our children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them. This isn’t a game for my family and definitely not for Zaya. This is her life.”
Wade and Zaya’s biological mother battling it out in court is reminiscent of other high-profile cases of parents disagreeing on whether or not to medically transition their children who identify as transgender and if so, to what extent.
The major difference here is Wade has a huge platform and an enormous amount of capital behind him. The outcome of this legal battle is worth watching.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-DISNEY

Dwyane Wade, Trans Activist: Former NBA Star Fights Ex-Wife On Gender Changes For Their Child

Former NBA player <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade">Dwyane Wade</a> just responded to his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade&#8217;s claims that he&#8217;s trying to make money off their <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a>-identifying child Zaya’s “name and gender change.”
The 40-year-old basketball pro took to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkfgtPoo5QJ/?hl=en">Instagram</a> on Thursday to defend his parenting.
&#8220;Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,&#8221; Wade wrote in the post. &#8220;While I’m on a life-changing trip in our motherland, Africa, I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children.&#8221;
&#8220;While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/social-issues">identity</a> and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously find ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children,&#8221; he continued. 
&#8220;This report came out while Zaya was in class. This is a kid who has maintained a 4.0 GPA in honors classes while navigating all this unsolicited and harmful attention and debates about her gender and sexuality from those who are committed to not listening to her, much less even knowing her.&#8221;
&#8220;I&#8217;ve given her the opportunity to reach out to Zaya’s teachers, doctors and therapist over the years and even meet her friends, so she could get her own understanding of our child’s needs for her LIFE,&#8221; Wade shared in his statement. &#8220;She won’t do it! She has not been to a school, recital, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent teacher conference etc and Zaya has given her every opportunity to try to get to know her. She won’t do it.&#8221;
He later said, &#8220;Zaya is not that same 3 year child anymore and she’s screaming that to the world but most importantly to her Mother! No one in our house would ever force Zaya or any of our children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them. This isn’t a game for my family and definitely not for Zaya. This is her life.&#8221;
Funches-Wade and Wade were married from 2002 to 2010 and are the parents of 20-year-old son Zaire Wade and Zaya. The former NBA star also has an 8-year-old son Xavier with former partner Aja Metoyer and a 3-year-old daughter Kaavia with his current wife, actress Gabrielle Union. 
Wade’s response comes after Funches-Wade filed court documents to block Zaya from legally changing their name and gender before the age of 18.
“I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,” the legal filing says, as The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nba-greats-ex-begs-court-to-block-their-trans-kids-gender-change-says-dad-positioned-to-profit">reported</a>.
“(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,” Wade&#8217;s ex-wife also shared in the court documents. 
“I am concerned that our child is being commercialized at a young age and also of the uncontrollable consequences of media exposure i.e. cyberbullying, statements and/or pictures taken out of context of our child, and the unwanted spotlight focused on our child.”
Zaya, a biological male, came out as transgender in 2020, and Dwyane has been a considerable advocate ever since. He previously told People magazine that Zaya’s transition is an inspiration.
“When I look at Zaya, it gives me hope because I’m like, okay, we raised [our kids] to be authentic,” he said.

Gucci Love Parade – Arrivals

Dwyane Wade Responds To Ex-Wife Objecting To Child’s Gender Change: ‘This Isn’t A Game’

Dwyane Wade Responds To Ex-Wife Objecting To Child's Gender Change

Retired NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwyane-wade">Dwyane Wade</a> has filed a petition to legally change the name and gender of his 15-year-old son, Zion, who goes by Zaya.
Wade and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, have said publicly since Zaya was 12 years old that the child is transgender and actually a girl. According to Wade, the child &#8220;came out&#8221; at age eight.
In a Los Angeles Superior Court petition filed Thursday, Wade asked for Zaya&#8217;s gender to be changed to female and that the teen&#8217;s name now legally be Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
The petition <a href="https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/entertainment/2022/08/18/dwyane-wade-petitions-court-to-permit-daughter-s-name-change">says</a> that Wade has full authority to make decisions for his child, and that the teen&#8217;s mother, Wade&#8217;s ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, has been notified of his actions.
Wade in 2020 posted photos of his then-12-year-old son to his Instagram account, praising the child as an LGBTQ+ leader while using female pronouns. “Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!” Wade <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself">captioned</a> a photo of the young child, who was wearing a bright green tuxedo jacket and pink sash.
“Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her,” the former Miami Heat guard wrote. “She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. <a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/truthawards/">#truthawards</a>.”
While at an awards show where Zaya was honored, Wade gushed to the audience that the child &#8220;came out&#8221; to him at age eight. “When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that we weren’t as educated about the LGBTQ+ plus community as we should have been,” he said.
Wade and Union apparently turned to a &#8220;male couple” to help them “navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for,” with regard to the young child&#8217;s gender, the athlete said.
“They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,” Wade continued. “From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya’s comfort and her confidence.”
In December, Wade similarly spoke about his biologically male child becoming who “she” is.
“I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually come into,” he <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-watched-child-become-who-she-now-eventually-is/">told</a> the “All the Smoke” podcast.
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After Wade noticed Zaya was not on the “boy vibe” that his other son was on, he said he questioned if the boy was gay and how he would feel about that. Apparently, the couple realized Zaya was really a girl.
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Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself">Dwyane Wade Hails 12-Year-Old ‘Trans’ Son As LGBTQ Leader In Instagram Post: ‘Allow Her To Re-Introduce Herself’</a>

NBA Star Dwyane Wade Files Petition To Legally Change Child’s Gender, Name

Dwyane Wade Files Petition To Legally Change Son’s Gender, Name

Former NBA star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/dwayne-wade">Dwayne Wade</a> told CNN that he fears for his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/transgender">transgender</a> child, Zaya, and disagrees with legislation that would make “gender-affirming” procedures on children illegal.
Wade, who is married to actress Gabrielle Union, made the comments during the <a href="https://time.com/6185163/dwyane-wade-transgender-daughter-time100-summit/">TIME100 Summit</a> on Tuesday. He also told CNN host Poppy Harlow that he disagrees with athletes being required to compete in categories that correspond with their biological sex and laws banning &#8220;gender-affirming medical care,&#8221; according to Time. 
“To me, it’s a joke. This is our life. We live this. When you’re out there making rules, if you’re not experiencing this, if you’re not living this, and you’re just out there signing away and making laws, that’s not right. That’s a joke,” the 40-year-old father of four said. “Come and live a day in my world with my daughter. Come and see how it is to walk through this world as her.”
“I just think we’re losing the human side of us,” Wade said. 
“As blessed as it is for my daughter to have parents who can support her, I’m still afraid every moment she leaves the house,” Wade continued. “And not just because of gun violence, but because of the way people perceive her in this world.”
He questioned why we’re not “educating our kids” in schools on trans issues. “You can’t close the book and what someone wants, and how they feel they are,” he said. “I just don’t understand.”
Wade and Union’s child came out as transgender at the age of 12 in 2020, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-hails-12-year-old-trans-son-as-lgbtq-leader-in-instagram-post-allow-her-to-re-introduce-herself">reported</a>.  
“When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that we weren’t as educated about the LGBTQ+ community as we should have been,” Wade said during a speech at the Better Brothers LA’s Truth Awards that year.
The NBA star continued, explaining how he and Union turned to a “male couple” to help them “navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for,” on the matter.
“They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,” Wade continued. 
“From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya’s comfort and her confidence,&#8221; he said.

TIME100 Summit 2022

Dwyane Wade Says He Fears For Transgender Child’s Safety ‘Every Moment,’ Slams Laws Banning ‘Gender-Affirming’ Procedures For Kids

Dwyane Wade Says He Fears For Transgender Child's Safety 'Every Moment,' Slams Laws Banning 'Gender-Affirming' Procedures For Kids

Former NBA star Dwyane Wade voiced support for Nick Cannon on Wednesday afternoon after Cannon was terminated by ViacomCBS for making remarks that were widely deemed as anti-Semitic.
Wade tweeted, &#8220;@NickCannon We are with you✊🏿 Keep leading!&#8221;
Seattle-based conservative radio host Jason Rantz tweeted out a screenshot of Wade&#8217;s tweet after Wade deleted the tweet a couple of hours after posting it.
&#8220;After Nick Cannon was fired for his disturbing anti-Semitic vitriol, Dwayne Wade tweeted his support&#8230; but then deleted the tweet,&#8221; Rantz said. &#8220;I screenshot it below. What leadership was @DwyaneWade supporting?&#8221;
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After Nick Cannon was fired for his disturbing anti-Semitic vitriol, Dwayne Wade tweeted his support&#8230; but then deleted the tweet. I screenshot it below. What leadership was <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DwyaneWade</a> supporting? <a href="https://t.co/c0bFsILkQk">pic.twitter.com/c0bFsILkQk</a>
&mdash; Jason Rantz on KTTH Radio (@jasonrantz) <a href="https://twitter.com/jasonrantz/status/1283493628518621185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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ViacomCBS <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/viacomcbs-terminates-nick-cannon-over-anti-semitic-remarks-does-not-mention-anti-white-remarks">announced</a> in a statement yesterday that it had terminated its relationship with Cannon:
<blockquote>ViacomCBS condemns bigotry of any kind and we categorically denounce all forms of anti-Semitism.
We have spoken with Nick Cannon about an episode of his podcast “Cannon’s Class” on YouTube, which promoted hateful speech and spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
While we support ongoing education and dialogue in the fight against bigotry, we are deeply troubled that Nick has failed to acknowledge or apologize for perpetuating anti-Semitism, and we are terminating our relationship with him.
We are committed to doing better in our response to incidents of anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry. ViacomCBS will have further announcements on our efforts to combat hate of all kinds.</blockquote>
Page Six <a href="https://pagesix.com/2020/07/14/nick-cannon-responds-to-backlash-following-anti-semitic-comments/">reported</a> that Cannon promoted fringe anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about Jewish people, including “the Rothschilds, centralized banking, the 13 families, the bloodlines that control everything even outside of America.”
The statement from ViacomCBS did not directly address anti-white remarks that Cannon made in the same podcast.
“When you have a person that has the lack of pigment, the lack of melanin, that they know that they will be annihilated,” Cannon <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-nick-cannon-white-people-are-a-little-less-closer-to-animals-true-savages">said</a>. “So, therefore, however they got the power, they have the lack of compassion. Melanin comes with compassion, melanin comes with soul. We call it soul. Soul brothers and sisters. That’s the melanin that connects us. So the people that don’t have it, and I’m going to say this carefully, are a little less.”
“When they didn’t have the power of the sun, the sun then started to deteriorate them, so then they’re acting out of fear, they’re acting out of low self-esteem, they’re acting out of a deficiency,” Cannon continued. “So, therefore, the only way that they can act is evil. They have to rob, steal, rape, kill … in order to survive.”
“They had to be savages, they had to be barbaric, because they’re in these Nordic mountains, they’re in these rough … environments, so they’re acting as animals,” Cannon added. “So they’re the ones that are actually closer to animals; they’re the ones that are actually the true savages.”
Wade later claimed in a tweet that he was not expressing support or condoning Cannon&#8217;s remarks.
&#8220;I want to clarify my now deleted tweet,&#8221; Wade tweeted. &#8220;I was not supporting or condoning what Nick Cannon specifically said, but I had expressed my support of him owning the content and brand he helped create.&#8221;
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I want to clarify my now deleted tweet. I was not supporting or condoning what Nick Cannon specifically said, but I had expressed my support of him owning the content and brand he helped create 🙏🏾
&mdash; DWade (@DwyaneWade) <a href="https://twitter.com/DwyaneWade/status/1283499589182517248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Cleveland Cavaliers v Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade Tells Nick Cannon To ‘Keep Leading’ After Cannon Fired For Racist Remarks; Wade Later Tries To ‘Clarify’

Nick Cannon

On Sunday, former NBA player Dwyane Wade posted photos of his 12-year-old son, whom he says is a transgender girl, to his Instagram account, praising the child as an LGBTQ+ leader while using female pronouns.
&#8220;Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!&#8221; Wade captioned a photo of young Zaya Wade wearing a bright green tuxedo jacket and pink sash.
The child recently changed his name from Zion to Zaya to coordinate with the gender &#8220;transition.&#8221;
&#8220;Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her,&#8221; the former Miami Heat guard wrote. &#8220;She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community. <a class=" xil3i" href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/truthawards/">#truthawards</a>.&#8221;
Wade, his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, and Zaya attended the Better Brothers LA&#8217;s Truth Awards together on Saturday night. According to <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/1129145/dwyane-wade-s-daughter-walks-first-red-carpet-as-zaya-wade">E! News</a>, the award ceremony &#8220;highlights the accomplishments of the Black LGBTQ+ community and its allies.&#8221;
According to the outlet, the three appeared on stage together &#8220;to honor a friend,&#8221; and Wade spoke about Zaya.
&#8220;When our 8-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, came home and said she had something to tell us, when she came out to us, as a family, we admitted that weren&#8217;t as educated about the LGBTQ+ plus community as we should have been,&#8221; Wade told the audience.
The athlete reportedly said that he and Union turned to a &#8220;male couple&#8221; to help them &#8220;navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask, and what to listen for,&#8221; with regard to the young boy&#8217;s gender.
&#8220;They also reminded us to make sure Zaya knew her community and felt the love and support inside and outside from home,&#8221; Wade continued. &#8220;From working closely with Zaya to design her room in our homes to make sure that her most authentic self was represented and that her bedroom felt like her sanctuary. Now, that may seem small, but taking the time to make sure Zaya felt seen and heard as she created her own space for us was key. It was key to Zaya&#8217;s comfort and her confidence.&#8221;
In December, Wade similarly spoke about his son becoming who &#8220;she&#8221; is.
“I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually come into,” he <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-watched-child-become-who-she-now-eventually-is/">told</a> the “All the Smoke.&#8221;
“And for me… nothing changes in my love. Nothing changes in my responsibilities. So, all I had to do now is get smarter, educate myself more. And that’s my job,” continued Wade, who recently <a href="https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/miami-heat-star-dwyane-wade-kicks-off-nba-62332990">retired</a> from the NBA after an uber-successful career.
“First of all, you want to talk about strength and courage, my 12-year-old has way more than I have,” he said. “You can learn something from your kids.”
After Wade noticed Zaya was not on the &#8220;boy vibe&#8221; that his other son was on, he said he questioned if the boy was gay and how he would feel about that. Apparently, the couple realized Zaya was really a girl.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9eV-FwnNwT/
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-talks-about-transgender-son-turning-into-who-she-is-hits-folks-questioning-his-parenting">Dwyane Wade Talks About Transgender Son Turning Into Who ‘She’ Is, Hits Folks Questioning His Parenting</a>

Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

Dwyane Wade Hails 12-Year-Old ‘Trans’ Son As LGBTQ Leader In Instagram Post: ‘Allow Her To Re-Introduce Herself’

During Tuesday&#8217;s episode of &#8220;The Ellen DeGeneres Show,&#8221; former NBA star Dwyane Wade discussed the gender transition of his 12-year-old child Zion Malachi Airamis, who is biologically male but now &#8220;identifies&#8221; as female.
Wade said preteen Zion, who now goes by Zaya, is a &#8220;leader&#8221; in the LGBTQ+ community, and noted that he and his wife, actress Gabrielle Union, are also &#8220;proud&#8221; allies of the community.
Host Ellen DeGeneres, to massive applause, praised Wade for being a &#8220;loving and supportive&#8221; father to Zaya.
&#8220;We are proud, when I say proud, we are proud parents of a child in the LGBTQ+ community, and we are proud allies, as well,&#8221; responded Wade.
The former Miami Heat guard said he and Union take their role as parents &#8220;very seriously.&#8221;
&#8220;When Zaya, 12 years old, came home,&#8221; explained Wade, noting that Zion &#8220;was born as a boy,&#8221; the child told he and Union that he wanted to &#8220;live his truth.&#8221;
&#8220;I think going forward I&#8217;m ready to live my truth,&#8221; Wade recalled his son telling him at age 12. &#8220;I wanna be referenced as &#8216;she&#8217; and &#8216;her&#8217; and I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.&#8221;
&#8220;We wanted to give our child the best opportunity to be her best self,&#8221; added Wade.
In December, Wade made similar comments about his child. “I watched my son, from day one, become into who she now eventually come into,” he <a href="https://people.com/parents/dwyane-wade-watched-child-become-who-she-now-eventually-is/">told</a> the “All the Smoke” podcast.
“And for me … nothing changes in my love. Nothing changes in my responsibilities. So, all I had to do now is get smarter educate myself more. And that’s my job,” he continued, noting, “You want to talk about strength and courage, my 12-year-old has way more than I have. You can learn something from your kids.”
“Me and my wife are having conversations about, you know, us noticing that, you know, [Zion] wasn’t on the boy vibe that Zaire was on,&#8221; Wade said. &#8220;And I had to look myself in the mirror and say, ‘What if your son comes home and tell you he’s gay? What are you going to do? How are you going to be? How are you going to act?’ It ain’t about him. He knows who he is. It’s about you. Who are you?”
“This is the new normal,&#8221; the former NBA star contended. &#8220;So, if anybody different, we’re looked at as different. The ones that don’t understand it. The ones that don’t get it. The ones that get stuck in the box, you know, they’re different. Not the people out here living their lives.”
In November, after a Thanksgiving family photo was posted to social media, wherein the young boy was sporting long, colored, manicured nails and a crop top, Wade responded via social media.
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“I’ve seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo,&#8221; he posted. &#8220;Stupidity is apart of this world we live in — so i get it. But here’s the thing — I’ve been chosen to lead my family not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love &amp; a smile!” 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dwyane-wade-talks-about-transgender-son-turning-into-who-she-is-hits-folks-questioning-his-parenting">Dwyane Wade Talks About Transgender Son Turning Into Who ‘She’ Is, Hits Folks Questioning His Parenting</a>
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WATCH:
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Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union

WATCH: Dwyane Wade Says 12-Year-Old ‘Trans’ Son Changed ‘Her’ Name; Ellen DeGeneres Praises Him On Parenting Skills

Ellen Degeneres

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