NBA superstar Dwyane Wade is surprisingly thankful to Boosie Badazz and J-Boog over homophobic comments they have made regarding his 13-year-old transgender daughter, citing them as conversation starters.
The proud and unapologetic dad made this known during the latest podcast episode of “I Am Athlete,” aptly titled “Dwyane Wade: G.O.A.T. of Parenting.” Since the public’s knowledge of the gender status of Wade’s child, he and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have come under heavy fire from friends, family, fans, and critics.
Thankfully, they have firmly stood by teenage transgender daughter Zaya Wade’s side and supported her non-stop throughout the entirety of her journey.
Back in February 2020, Dwyane Wade attended Good Morning America, where he divulged aspects of his daughter’s resolution to identify as female. That is when rapper Boosie Badazz did what he does best, spoke his mind. However, his rant was not well received as it was laden with homophobic stigma.
“I gotta say something about this sh*t,” an infuriated Boosie said. “Dwyane Wade, you’ve gone too f**king far, bro. That is a male. A 12-year-old.”
He later addressed his statements during a “Hot Boxin’ With Mike Tyson” podcast, explaining that he “got offended ’cause it’s a child”. He added, “If it was an 18-year-old, 19-year-old grown person, I wouldn’t have said anything, but that’s a child. I felt like a child ain’t… at 12, can’t make that decision. And certain things I talk about like that, that was going too far. You calling him a her, that’s going too far.”
Although the host agreed with Boosie Badazz’s statements, he made sure to make it clear that it wasn’t their business to speak on, to which Boosie responded, issuing an apology. “Oh yeah, I apologize to Dwyane Wade. I mean what I said but … I shouldn’t have said the sh*t about your child,” he said.
Zaya recently took part in an interview with former first lady Michelle Obama, and this, of course, ignited a bevy of hurtful statements. Singer J-Boog termed the interview as “demonic,” and rapper Lil Mama also weighed in sharing his sentiments. She drew reference to transgender children likening them to dogs and cats, resulting in her facing harsh criticism.
During the “I Am Athlete” interview Dwyane Wade made use of the opportunity to address the critics, but not as how you would have imagined. He began, “At the end of the day, what I’m dealing with people, I’m dealing with life and death.”
He spoke about the high suicide rate in the transgender community and stated he does not want his child to go down that path simply because of non-acceptance. “It’s people in the transgender community that are getting killed. Its kids that are murdering themselves, that are hanging themselves; they’re killing themselves because of something as simple as acceptance. Something as simple as unconditional love is not being given to these kids and I’ll be damned if my child gon’ be that person because of something as simple as me supporting who you are.”
He then addressed both Boosie and J-Boog and thanked them for being vocal as, through their actions, they have allowed conversations to be had about transgender individuals. “So, Boosie, all the people who got something to say, J-Boog, who just came out recently… all the people who got something to say about my kids, I thank you because you’re allowing the conversation to keep going forward because you know what? You might not have the answer today, I don’t have all the answers, but we’re growing from all these conversations.”
Wade’s fans are now sending out an outpouring of love, support, and respect for him as they regard him as an inspiring and amazing father.
