Marlon Wayans went from ‘denial to complete acceptance’ in a week after his child came out as trans

Comedian Marlon Wayans has spoken about coming to terms with his trans child’s identity.

White Chicks star Wayans revealed in 2023 that he had a trans child. Now, appearing on the IMO podcast, hosted by Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, he said Kai’s transition had taught him about unconditional love.

“When they went through the transition, I actually went through the transition,” Wayans said. “I went from denial to complete acceptance. It took me a week to get there.

“What I’ve learned as a parent is for you to stop loving your child because of their choice and their life, that’s a poor reflection on you.

“When there’s people that go: ‘I’m not going to associate with you because you do that’, or ‘this is against God’, listen, I am not here to judge. I am not God. Only God can judge… and if that’s a mistake and we get to heaven and God don’t let my child in, [I’ll] shave her beard and sneak him in through the back.

“But I’m going to love my baby, I’m a father. I’m always going to defend them, I’m always going to protect them, I’m always going to respect them.”

He has lost “small-minded” people because of it but didn’t care.

As well as showing support for Kai, Wayans has used his platform to voice his backing for the LGBTQ+ community. 

Last year, he told Jennifer Hudson: “I went through the five stages of grief to get to the beautiful, magical place called acceptance.” Kai taught him that he was “a lot stronger than I thought I”. They are “the same child they was before, they’ve just got a beard now.”

And speaking on the Blocks podcast, he said he was “embarrassed” by his struggle to accept his son’s transition.

“I protested against it and I don’t say that with pride. I look back on those actions and I’m ashamed.”

But all he wants now only is for his children to be happy. “This is their life and they should be happy if they do this,” he said. “And if they want to change back, or whatever they want to do, it’s not on me to punch down on my child. It’s on me to love my child. All I can do is love my child and that’s what I do.”

Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.