Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s Outfit at the Knicks Game Sparked Controversy Around Transphobia
4 min readFormer NBA player Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union were booed and insulted as they exited the New York Knicks game against the Miami Heat. The 41-year-old former Heat player was at Madison Square Garden on Sunday to see his former team thrash the hosts. However, the retired three-time NBA champion, who is the father of transgender model Zaya, was booed as he exited the game. Wade can be seen following his wife Gabrielle towards a car in video footage sent to DailyMail by Adam Glyn, who filmed the event. Some of the spectators gathered outside the arena started booing Dwyane Wade, with one yelling at him, ‘You mutilated your son,’ in reference to his daughter Zaya.
Following a legal battle between Wade and his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, Zaya legally changed her name and gender in February after coming out as trans at the age of 12. According to paperwork acquired by TMZ, a Los Angeles County judge approved Dwyane’s 15-year-old child’s new identity. The judge also approved her gender transition from male to female. Last August, the petition for the name and gender was filed. Zaya’s mother challenged Wade’s petition in November, claiming that their child was being financially coerced to make the decision. The NBA legend recently disclosed that he and his family left Florida due to what he thinks are restrictive rules that violate LGBTQ people’s rights.
Here's what Dwyane Wade said on Headliners when I asked him about anti-LGBTQ laws in Florida: "That's another reason why I don't live in that state. A lot of people don't know that…my family would not be accepted or feel comfortable there." pic.twitter.com/1ya0AevA1C
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) April 26, 2023
Dwyane Wade And Gabrielle Union Were Chastised For Using Their Trans Daughter Zaya As A ‘Fashion Item’ After Being Booed At A Knicks Game
Former NBA star Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union were booed as they exited the Knicks-Miami Heat game. The 41-year-old former Heat player attended the game at Madison Square Garden on Sunday to watch his former team destroy the venue’s squad. As he exited the game, the three-time NBA champion and father of transgender model Zaya, 15, was booed by the sports fans. Zaya, now 15 years old and once known as Zion, came out as transgender when she was barely 12 years old. Following a seven-month legal battle in February 2023, the daughter of former NBA player Dwyane Wade was granted acceptance to use a new legal name. The court has also permitted her to embrace her gender, according to court records acquired by TMZ. After a Los Angeles County judge approved her new name, she is now known as Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. She was allowed to change her name and gender from male to female. The three-time NBA champion made the revelation on Showtime’s newest series, ‘Headliners with Rachel Nichols,’ where he was asked about Florida lawmakers who adore him but also support LGBTQ legislation that is hurtful to his family.
Wade responded, “That’s another reason why I don’t live in that state,” adding, “A lot of people don’t know that.” I have to make decisions for my entire family, not just for myself. Obviously, the taxation is excellent. Wade County is fantastic. My family, on the other hand, would not be accepted or at ease there. That’s one of the reasons I don’t live there,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. As the news broke, the internet was divided, with some siding with the former NBA star and others commenting on the current situation surrounding him. Being an excellent athlete does not make you righteous, bright, or determined to undertake the effort necessary to guide your children through life’s hardships, according to one admirer. Perhaps he should stop putting his child on display like the newest Birken Bag for attention, another said. They’re dressing their youngster up like a fashion object, remarked the third. While another commented in support of Wade, saying, “Wow – the responses on this thread describing them abusers while they are merely attempting to help and protect their daughter.” You, individuals, are evil. Who the hell do you think you are?
Being an amazing athlete doesn’t make you moral, intelligent or willing to do the work required to guide your children through life’s trials.
— Creative Genius (@CR8IVIQ) May 2, 2023
I don't approve of this random harassment, but telling them Zion is a boy and that it's absurd to pretend he is a girl is not transphobic.
— Black Together Again (@KProtein19) May 2, 2023
Wow – the replies on this thread calling them abusers, when they are just trying to support and protect their daughter. You people are evil. Who the hell do you think you are.
— SuzyQL (Not *that* Q)🌞🟧 (@SuzyQL) May 2, 2023
They just moved out of Florida to dunk on DeSantis, claiming that state is too intolerant to live in, only to get a stunning kick in the teeth from “progressive” NYC
— Indivisualist (@RIndivisualist) May 2, 2023