NBA legend Dwyane Wade has responded with a legal objection to his ex-wife’s request to stop him from legally changing the gender and name of their teenage son.
In August, Wade filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to allow the 15-year-old to change her name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. Court documents said Wade had the authority to make the decision on behalf of her son and that her mother was served with the request as a «courtesy.»
Siohvaughn Funches-Wade filed a petition to block the move, alleging that the former Miami Heat star violated a 2011 custody order and that he «is positioned to benefit from the minor child’s name and gender change with various companies through contacts and marketing opportunities including, but not limited to deals with Disney.»
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Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade poses for a photo with his wife Siohvaughn during the Heat’s NBA championship parade at the American Airlines Arena on June 23, 2006 in Miami, Florida.
(Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
They are the parents of two children, including 15-year-old Zaya, who identifies as a transgender girl.
According to documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Wade called his ex-wife’s claims about the potential to profit from their son’s name change «defamatory to their core and nonsensical at best.» The documents insist that Wade has the authority to make the final decision when it comes to his child.
Wade insisted on his objection that the court granting the petition is in the «best interest» of his son. She said changing her daughter’s name from Zion to Zaya will allow her to «live more comfortably and honestly in all aspects of her life, from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver’s license and completing college applications.» .
The documents also claim that Wade contacted his ex-wife in April 2022 about Zaya’s desire to go through with the move.
DWYANE WADE ACCUSES EX OF BEING AN ABSENT PARENT WHILE FACES LEGAL BATTLE TRYING TO CHANGE CHILD’S NAME AND GENDER
«On May 3, 2022, Siohvaughn responded to Dwyane’s advice via email, stating that she would not engage in any discussion of ‘elective matters’ until her relationship and bond with her son was ‘fully healed and restored.'» . the documents say. «Dwyane complied with his obligations under the FCJ (final custody judgment) to seek Siohvaughn’s opinion on this matter. Siohvaughn, however, refused to participate in any substantive discussion.»
Zaya Wade, Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade attend the world premiere of «Cheaper By the Dozen» at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, California on March 16, 2022.
(Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
A hearing on the case is set for December in Los Angeles.
Dwyane and Siohvaughn’s split was less than amicable. According to ESPN Milwaukee, Wade was awarded sole custody of his two children.
Siohvaughn «engaged in a relentless and unrelenting pattern of behavior for more than two years to alienate the children from their father, and lacks the ability or willingness to facilitate, let alone encourage, a close and continuing relationship between them.» said Chicago Judge Renee. G. Goldfard said in her ruling, according to ESPN Milwaukee.
Wade opened up about his son in February 2020.
«Our (then) 12-year-old son came home… and said, ‘Hey, I want to talk to you guys. I think in the future I’m ready to live my truth, and I want to be referred to as ‘her’ and ‘she ‘, and I’d love to be called Zaya,» Wade said at the time.
«We’re just trying to get as much information as possible to make sure we give our daughter the best chance to be her best.»
Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade during a game against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Arena on April 13, 2015 in Miami, Florida.
(Mike Ehrman/Getty Images)
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Wade is currently married to actress Gabrielle Union.