Scary Movie star Marlon Wayans has opened up about when his son came out as transgender.
Wayans shares sons Shawn, 21, and Kai, 23, with ex-wife Angelica Zachary.
The 51-year-old actor and comedian has since explained what his reaction was when Kai – who uses the pronouns he/they – came out to him as transgender.
In an interview on The Breakfast Club, Wayans spoke about how his upcoming comedy set called Skittles or Rainbow Child is about Kai.
He said: “It’s about my daughter. I have a daughter that transitioned into a son. My daughter Amai is now Kai.
“And so 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.”
Wayans said he thinks there ‘are a lot of parents out there’ that ‘need to have that message’.
“I know I’m dealing with it,” he continued. “It was a very painful situation for me, but man, it’s one of the best, funniest hours, I could probably ever imagine.”
Wayans notes he does ‘always joke’ and so when Kai first told him they wanted to transition, the comedian said: “You transitioning into your brother, you look just like him.”
However, the actor continued: “But they’re brilliant, they don’t change. Brilliant, the most well read, the smartest Wayans.”
The father admitted he’s ‘still working on [his] pronouns’ and Kai knows that and knows he loves him.
Wayans said: “They see me try and they’re like, ‘I’m happy’. But I got to respect their wishes and that takes – as a parent, I just want my kids to be free. I want them to be free in spirit and 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 the household with their father and their mother, how the f**k do I send them out into the world with that kind of confidence? And I’m just so proud of them for being them, but that don’t mean that they ain’t got jokes.”
Wayans added Kai approved his comedy set, resolving: “I want to do this set right here because it’s important to me. What’s important to me? Comedy. What’s important to me? My children. What do I love and what’s important is change.
“And so all you world leaders that’s having this Summit I want you to think about these people and this synapse and how to be inclusive of this next generation because I see a lot of grey area but there kids that we deal with they different and we can’t have our old ways and expect to do new things.
“So please, embrace the new.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468. The line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers.
