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The last fight between Dwyane Wade and his ex, Siohvaughn Funches Wadeabout her daughter got a bit ugly. TMZ reports it has received documents in which Dwyane, 40, claimed it was inside Zaya Wades “Best interest” that the 15-year-old legally change her name and gender, despite an appeal filed by Siohvaughn, 41, in early November. “A court order confirming her identity will allow Zaya to be more comfortable and honest in all aspects of her life — from simple introductions and ordering food to getting a driver’s license and filling out college applications,” Wade reportedly writes in the documents.
“This petition is about enabling Zaya to approach young adult milestones with confidence and joy,” the documents read. Wade’s court filing also threw a shot at Siohvaughn’s claim that he pressured Zaya to change her gender to “profit from the financial opportunities he was given.” Wade’s documents state: “Siohvaughn’s allegations are defamatory at heart and baseless at best. Dwyane submitted this petition because Zaya asked him to.”
Siohvaughn argued in her filings that Zaya, who is trans, should wait until she “comes of age” to change her name and gender. “There are several factors that must be considered by the court when deciding on requests to change the name and sex of the minor child. The minor child is fifteen and a half years old,” she wrote. Dwyane responded to the allegations that he was “pressuring” Zaya with an Instagram statement.
While on a life changing journey to our mother country Africa, I received a social media post forcing our 15 year old to be someone who is not and to do something against their will “, he wrote . “I have given [Siohvaughn] the opportunity to connect with Zaya’s teachers, doctors, therapists over the years and even meet her friends so she can understand for herself what our child needs for LIFE! She won’t!”
Dwyane claimed that his ex-wife “wasn’t at a school, lecture, graduation, school dance, play date, practice, parent-teacher conference, etc. and Zaya gave her every opportunity to get to know her.” She won’t!” Wade also claimed that his ex “yet… hasn’t had to make any sacrifice or effort to leave their own home to be a part of their children’s lives in over a decade. Zaya is not the same 3 year old anymore and she is screaming that out to the world, but most importantly to her mother!”