Entertainment
Dwyane Wade fires back at ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches’ claims over trans daughter Zaya: ‘This isn’t a game for my family’-Rishma Dosani-Entertainment – Metro
‘The high road has run out of real estate.’
Dwyane Wade hit back at his ex-wife’s court petition regarding their daughter (Picture: Getty)
Dwyane Wade has slammed ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches over her comments regarding their daughter, Zaya.
The 15-year-old came out as transgender in 2020, with the NBA star, 40, and partner Gabrielle Union sharing their full support over the news.
Earlier this week, Siohvaughn filed a court petition objecting to the athlete’s petition to legally change their daughter’s name and gender, expressing her ‘concerns’ over the situation and alleging that he may be ‘pressuring our child’ so that he can ‘capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies.’
Dwyane, who split from the motivational speaker in 2007 and shares two children with her, fired back at the paperwork in a lengthy statement on Instagram.
‘Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,’ he began. ‘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 something 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 finds ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children.
Zaya has been supported by Dwyane and Gabrielle Union (Picture: Getty)
‘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 ae committed to not listening to her, much less even knowing her!
‘Siohvaughn tried a similar attempt over a decade ago (with equally damaging lies and causing irreparable harm to her children) and 13 lawyers later, I was awarded sole custody of our two kids as an active NBA player! All I ever wanted was to have my parenting time uninterrupted, as I knew that it would be a very difficult time for our kids to navigate their new normal.’
The dad-of-four claimed that he had offered his ex multiple opportunities to sit down and discuss the matter privately, to give her an ‘understanding’ of what their daughter needs, but she ‘won’t do it’.
Siohvaughn Funches filed a court petition this week (Picture: Instagram)
‘So instead of actually trying to co-parent over the years, she’s left her home to see more lawyers and has taken the time to talk to more lawyers since I filed for divorce, than she’s left her home to actually see or have truly spoken and LISTENED to Zaya over all these years,’ he continued.
‘I’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! 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!
‘As a woman who claims to be a “good Christian mother”, I’ve yet to see her make any sacrifice or effort to leave her own home to participate in her children’s lives in over a decade. Zaya is not that same 3 year old child anymore and she’s screaming that to the world but most importantly to her mother!’
Dwyane also insisted that no one would ‘force’ their children to do anything that they didn’t want to do, and vowed that this ‘isn’t a game’ for their family.
‘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! All the while my wife and our village has been her rock in helping her pick up the pieces after heartbreak after heartbreak,’ he concluded.
‘Siohvaughn has decided to pretty much be an absent parent to Zaya ALL ON HER OWN. As men, we get a bad rep for not showing up and being absentee fathers, well that’s not the came here because I’m ten toes down and I’m still going thru the BS!
‘I will not sit on my hands this time and allow her to make a mockery of my dedication to my family. The high road has run out of real estate. My lawyer will be in contact and best of luck to the 14th lawyer as they try to unravel this book of lies that’s been sold to them.’
Alongside the message, he added in a caption: ‘I’ve decided to personally respond to the many allegations thats being made about me and my family!’
Zaya came out as trans in 2020 (Picture: Getty)
Siohvaughn has yet to respond publicly to his comments.
The former couple tied the knot in 2002 but called time on their marriage five years later – after which Dwyane started dating Gabrielle.
Their divorce was finalized in 2010, and he was granted sole custody of their kids the following year.
Zaya, the oldest of the two children they share, came out as trans in 2020, with the basketball legend sharing his pride at the news during an appearance on the Ellen Show.
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However, in the recent court filing, Siohvaughn claimed that he is hoping to ‘profit’ from the situation.
In documents obtained by People Magazine, she alleged that Dwyane is ‘positioned to profit from the minor child’s name and gender change with various companies through contacts and marketing opportunities including but not limited to deals with Disney.’
She is thought to have added: ‘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.’
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