Former NBA star Dwayne Wade shared a comprehensive statement on Instagram on November 3 to directly respond to the allegations made by his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, about their transgender daughter Zaya. 

Wade began the post, “Since this must be the new way of parenting, I guess I 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.” He wrote incredulously. 

Wade shut down all of the accusations of his harmful intentions, continuing to say that he was disappointed by Funches-Wade. “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,” Wade continued, “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!” 

Wade said that he had made multiple attempts to get his ex-wife to be healthily involved in Zaya’s life but that she simply had no understanding of what she needed. Wade ended the post by telling readers that Funches-Wade was an absent parent “all on her own,” and that he wouldn’t sit back and let her do wrong by their daughter. 

The heated Instagram post comes after Funches-Wade filed an objection with the court to keep Zaya from legally changing her name from her dead name. As previously reported, she said,

“I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,” Accusing the man of using his kid for his own personal gain.