Dwyane Wade Slams Ex-Wife For Accusing Him Of Exploiting Trans Daughter

NBA star Dwyane Wade is fed up with his ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches-Wade and her allegations that he's pressuring their transgender daughter Zaya to change her identity and profiting off it. Following The Blast's exclusive report on his ex-wife's court filing, Wade has now posted a statement on Instagram, calling out Funches-Wade and saying that she has never put in the effort to get close to Zaya or be a part of her life.

Wade also insisted that he and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have never forced anything on their kids, especially Zaya. He also threatened legal action against Funches-Wade, which will be the latest in their legal battles, which started when he filed for divorce in 2011. Funches-Wade made headlines with her objection to Wade's petition to officially change Zaya's name and gender after The Blast broke the story.

In his Instagram post, the former pro-basketballer also praised Zaya, saying that she's maintained high grades despite the negative attention and the lack of support from her mother. In the comment section, fans supported Wade for defending his daughter and praised Zaya for growing into a "beautiful and powerful young woman."

Read on to find out more.

Wade recently released a lengthy Instagram statement addressing Funches-Wade's court filing. In the statement, the retired NBA star said he's not surprised by his ex-wife's "attempt to fight Zaya's identity" and that she's trying to "drag [his] name through the mud."

He also wrote, "I'm very disappointed that she continuously finds ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children. I've given her the opportunity to reach out to Zaya's teachers, doctors and therapist over the years and even meet her friends, so she could get her own understanding of our child's needs for her LIFE!"

40-year-old Wade also claimed that 41-year-old Funches-Wade is an "absent parent" who has refused to attend a single "recital, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent-teacher conference etc." but claims to be a "good Christian mother."

The former Miami Heat player also insisted that he and his wife, Gabrielle Union, have never forced "Zaya or any of [their] children to do anything against their will, much less force an identity on them." Wade also stated that this time, he wouldn't "sit on [his] hands" as Funches-Wade accuses him falsely.

Wade said, "The high road has run out of real estate. My lawyer will be in contact." The former basketballer obtained full custody of his children with Funches-Wade in 2011 when he divorced their mother. Funches-Wade has taken every opportunity to criticize Wade for his parenting, especially when he let Zaya transition.

Funches-Wade and Wade were married from 2002 to 2010, and the podcast host made headlines recently when she objected to Wade's petition to change Zaya's name and gender officially. In the court documents obtained exclusively by The Blast, Funches-Wade wrote, "I have concerns that [Dwyane] may be pressuring our child to move forward… in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies."

The petition is to change Zaya's name legally from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. In his filing per The Blast, Wade claimed that he has the legal right to make such decisions on Zaya's behalf and said he only informed Funches-Wade "as a courtesy."

Funches-Wade has been battling her ex-husband for two years after Zaya revealed that she's transgender. The now teenager has since won modeling contracts with major brands like Dove and Tiffany and attended Fashion Week. According to Funches-Wade, Zaya is also in talks with Disney for film projects.

In his Instagram post criticizing Funches-Wade, Wade also praised Zaya and revealed that she has "a 4.0 GPA" and is in "honors classes." He also said that his daughter has maintained her high grades "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!"

His fans flooded the comment section of the Instagram post, praising Wade for standing by Zaya and defending her. One fan wrote, "She's growing into a beautiful, powerful young woman. Anyone not supporting this journey is losing out."