Picture Credit: Twitter
Former NBA champion Dwyane Wade has posted a strong response to his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, who accused him of trying to exploit their transgender daughter Zaya. Funches-Wade believes that Wade is pushing Zaya by applying for a legal name and gender change for the teen for financial gains.
The Miami Heat legend posted a lengthy message on his Instagram account after Siohvaughn Funches-Wade filed an objection in a Los Angeles court to block his petition filed in August to have the 15-year-old’s birth name changed to Zaya and her gender to female.
Dwayne Wade is currently in Africa and expressed his shock about receiving Funches-Wade’s objection. In the note posted on his Instagram, Wade wrote, “Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess have to address these allegations here, which is a damn shame.”
“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.”
Siohvaughn's formal objection claimed that her ex-husband has been trying to exploit their child for money. Siohvaughn argues in the filing, reported by ET on Wednesday, that the custody agreement she reached with Wade in Illinois, where their divorce was finalized, allows her to be involved in the decision of legally changing their child's gender and name.
Furthermore, Siohvaughn alleges, "In April 2022, [Dwyane] invited me to one of his residences in Atlanta, Georgia. During this occasion, [he] informed me that a lot of money had been already made and that additional money will be made in relation to our child's name and gender issue. [He] 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."
