Marlon Wayans Inspires With His Unconditional Love for His Trans Son
Marlon led by example in 2023 when he discussed his “unconditional love” for his trans son.
Though comedian Marlon Wayans and ex-partner Angelica Zackery never married, the former couple did bring two children into this world. And Marlon’s relationship with son Kai made headlines recently when the comedian discussed Kai’s trans identity.
“I just want my kids to be free,” Marlon said on The Breakfast Club in November 2023, per ABC News. “I want them to be free in spirit, free in thought, free to be themselves. The more you know yourself, the more you can govern yourself, the more you live your truth, the happier your existence. So, if they can’t get that in a household with their father and their mother, how the f–k do I send them out into the world with that kind of confidence?”
Read on for more about Marlon’s family life.
Marlon Wayans never married but did have a two-decade relationship with Angelica Zackery.
“On her deathbed, I said, ‘Can I tell you something, woman?’” he recalled. “She was in a lot of pain, and she was fighting to stay alive, and I say, ‘I’m 47 years old, and I’ve never been married because I always wanted you to be my number one girl.’ … I never got married because I knew my mom needed me.”
He had another reasons for never taking the leap into matrimony, too. “I like to bend and not break, and I feel like when you get married, you have to get divorced in order to either be separated or together,” he told Essence. “I like friendships because you just learn each other, and you just grow, and you just get better.”
He and Angelica have two kids, Kai and Shawn.
Marlon and Angelica welcomed their first child, Kai (born Amai), on May 24, 2000, followed by second child Shawn on Feb. 3, 2002, according to People.
And in the aforementioned Breakfast Club interview, Marlon said that Kai is trans and uses he/they pronouns. “I talk about the transition, not their transition, but my transition as a parent going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance,” he said. “And I think there’s a lot of parents out there that need to have that message.”
In an Instagram tribute in honor of Kai’s 22nd birthday in 2022, Marlon wrote, “I love you unconditionally and always will. … Proud of the human we raised. Smile every day. Be you. Be fearless. Be strong. Know how f–king dope you are… then kick life’s ass.”
Marlon Wayans’ Marriage & Family Life
Marlon Wayans never married but did have a two-decade relationship with Angelica Zackery.
“On her deathbed, I said, ‘Can I tell you something, woman?’” he recalled. “She was in a lot of pain, and she was fighting to stay alive, and I say, ‘I’m 47 years old, and I’ve never been married because I always wanted you to be my number one girl.’ … I never got married because I knew my mom needed me.”
He had another reason for never taking the leap into matrimony, too. “I like to bend and not break, and I feel like when you get married, you have to get divorced in order to either be separated or together,” he told Essence. “I like friendships because you just learn each other, and you just grow, and you just get better.”
Marlon Wayans and His Children
He and Angelica have two kids, Kai and Shawn.
Marlon and Angelica welcomed their first child, Kai (born Amai), on May 24, 2000, followed by second child Shawn on Feb. 3, 2002, according to People.
And in the aforementioned Breakfast Club interview, Marlon said that Kai is trans and uses he/they pronouns. “I talk about the transition, not their transition, but my transition as a parent going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance,” he said. “And I think there’s a lot of parents out there that need to have that message.”
In an Instagram tribute in honor of Kai’s 22nd birthday in 2022, Marlon wrote, “I love you unconditionally and always will. … Proud of the human we raised. Smile every day. Be you. Be fearless. Be strong. Know how f–king dope you are… then kick life’s ass.”