Dwyane Wade’s ex-wife claims he is exploiting their transgender daughter Zaya for financial gain

Dwyane Wade’s ex-wife has accused him of their 15-year-old transgender daughter for financial gain and is begging a court to intervene. 

In court papers filed this week that were obtained by The Blast, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade begged a judge to impose an order that would ban their 15-year-old daughter Zaya from legally changing her gender from male to female until she is 18. 

Zaya, as she is now known, came out at the age of 12 in 2020.

Since then, she has won modelling contracts with brands like Tiffany and amassed hundreds of thousands of social media followers. 

She often appears on red carpets with her father and stepmother Gabrielle Union, who have spoken frequently in interviews about their acceptance of the child and her choice. 

Zaya with Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, who fears her ex-husband is exploiting her for financial gain. She wants Zaya to wait until she is 18 before legally changing her gender from male to female

Zaya’s mother however claims Dwyane is pressuring her into the transition. 

‘I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,’ she wrote in her legal filing. 

It was a response to an August petition by Wade to allow Zaya to legally change her name from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. 

Siohvaughn  cited a conversation in April during which she claims Dwyane told her ‘that a lot of money had been already made and that additional money will be made in relation to our child’s name and gender issue.’ 

‘(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,’ she claims. 

‘I am concerned that our child is being commercialized at a young age and also of the uncontrollable consequences of media exposure i.e. cyberbullying, statements and/or pictures taken out of context of our child, and the unwanted spotlight focused on our child.’ 

Zaya was Zion (far right) until she came out aged 12. She is shown with older brother Zaire and mother Siohvaughn 

Siohvaughn and Wade were married between 2002 and 2010. They also share older son Zaire, 20

Since coming out as transgender aged 12, Zaya has won modeling contracts with brands like Tiffany. She is shown attending Paris Fashion Week last month 

Zaya with older brother Zaire, stepmother Gabrielle Union, father Dwyane and half-sister, three-year-old Kaavia James 

Neither Union nor Wade has publicly responded to the claims. 

A hearing has been set for December. 

Siohvaughn and Wade were married between 2002 and 2010. They also share older son Zaire, 20. 

In his August filing, the former athlete claimed he had legal jurisdiction to make decisions on his daughter’s behalf, and that he was only informing his ex-wife ‘as a courtesy’.

Wade described how Zaya came out to him and wife Gabrielle Union, telling Ellen DeGeneres: ‘Our (then) 12-year-old came home…and said, “Hey, I want to talk to you guys. 

‘I think going forward I’m ready to live my truth and I want to be referenced as she and her and I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.’ 

Dwyane has spoken openly and frequently about his daughter’s transition and is now an LGBTQ advocate. He is shown on Ellen in 2020, describing how Zaya came out to the family