Retired Miami Heat NBA star Dwyane Wade is calling out online bullies who mocked his 12-year-old son, Zion, for sporting long fake nails and a cropped t-shirt in a family Thankgiving photo.
Wade and his wife, actor Gabrielle Union, have had a rough month amid reports that Union was fired from America’s Got Talentfor calling out racist behavior on the set of the NBC show. Union posted a family Thanksgiving photo on Instagram, thanking all who had been offering support. But trolls unexpectedly emerged to savage Union’s stepson, Zion.
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Commenters dug in with nasty remarks about the boy’s nails, criticizing Wade and Union for allowing him fake nails and telling the celebrity couple to “encourage this boy to dress manly.” Speculation swirled about Zion’s sexuality, something that Union and Wade have not addressed publicly — although Zion’s mom, Siohvaughn Funches, was spotted with Union and Zion at the Miami Beach Pride Parade in April. In the fall, Union also launched a T-shirt line supporting LGTBQ young people.
Wade and Union also share a daughter, Kaavia, 1.
Now Wade is hitting back at the trolls criticizing Zion’s appearance. He tweeted on Nov. 30:
As a parent my only goal is that my kids feel that i see them , love them and support them. https://t.co/ZrJp9WFdbi
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 30, 2019
Wade also tweeted more directly about the online nastiness, saying “Stupidity is a part of this world we live in….”:
I’ve seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo. Stupidity is apart of this world we live in—so i get it. But here’s the thing—I’ve been chosen to lead my family not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love & a smile! ✌🏾
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) November 30, 2019
“I’ve been chose to lead my family, not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love and a smile,” he wrote.
Fans were quick to rally and show support for Wade’s unconditional love for his son:
As a black trans man I would have LOVED to have the support from my father that you give your children! You are an amazing father and thank you for standing up for ALL of our rights’ 🖤 #Love
— Trans In Color (@TransInColor) December 1, 2019
And some fans touchingly shared their own family photos, praising Wade for defending his family.
This is my (not all either) family photo. I love it so much. There’s so much cultural & religious diversity, so many different shades of humanity & so many differences. Still we are all human & we all love one another. That is all that matters in this life. Well done sir 👏 pic.twitter.com/sUjYKBdXBF
— ElleCat (@GetwellwithElle) December 1, 2019
We admire the Wade-Union union with all our heart. All we see is a beautiful family in which everyone is free to be exactly who they are — and it’s a shame this goodness is something that still draws targeted attacks from strangers online.
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