Former NBA star Dwyane Wade responded in a social media post on Thursday after his ex-wife filed a court petition objecting to legally changing their daughter Zaya’s name and claiming that the three-time NBA champion was trying to profit off Zaya’s name and gender change ‘with various companies through contacts and marketing opportunities including but not limited to deals with Disney.’
Siohvaughn Funches-Wade also requested in a court filing this week, that Zaya Wade wait until “the age of majority” to make changes to her name and gender identity. Zaya is currently 15 years old.
In August, Wade asked a court to legally change the gender and name of his daughter.
‘Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame,’ Wade said in a statement on social media. ‘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 added. ‘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.’
Funches-Wade and Dwyane Wade were married from 2002 to 2010 and are parents Zaire Wade, who is 20, and Zaya.
A hearing is set for Dec. 12 in the case.