Marlon Wayans, the 53-year-old actor and comedian, has opened up about his transgender son Kai Wayans in a new interview, revealing that his eldest child's transition taught him the meaning of 'true, unconditional love.'
A Period of Profound Loss
Speaking with Variety on Monday, Wayans shared that Kai's transition occurred after a series of personal tragedies that unfolded during the coronavirus pandemic. 'My world crumbled,' the New York City native recounted. 'I lost 62 people that I loved, including my mother and my father. I had friends and people that are very special to me — some OD'd with fentanyl; others died of brain aneurysms, strokes.'
Wayans, a member of the renowned Wayans comedy family, noted that 60 'people that [he] loved died' before the passing of his parents. It was during this tumultuous time that Kai, now 26, 'transitioned from [his] daughter to [his] son.'
Finding Faith and Acceptance
Wayans explained that all these events were 'happening at once,' which led him to recall a piece of wisdom from his late father: 'Sometimes you need faith to bring you through the darkness.' He said that his relationship with Kai is strong, as it took only 'a week to go from denial to acceptance' regarding the transition.
'I've never been married because I was never ready for marriage,' Wayans told the publication. 'And I went through this journey with my child, and it taught me to love unconditionally.'
The entertainer, who is also father to son Shawn, 24, emphasized his focus on his children's happiness. 'At the end of the day, are my children happy? And if they're happy, then I'm happy for them.' He added, 'My job as a father is to protect, respect and honor [my] children, and make sure they feel supported. It's not my job to judge them; it's my job to love them. All of my kids are gifts, and our love is the wrapping paper.'
Standing Against Hate
Wayans made it clear that he rejects anti-trans ideologies and those who support them. 'I'm not here for hate,' he stated. 'Transphobia is a form of hate. Homophobia is a form of hate. Racism is a form of hate. All those small-hearted, small-minded people, there's a hell for you.'
Having previously been in an online dispute with Soulja Boy over the rapper's inflammatory remarks about trans people and his family, Wayans vowed to defend his son. 'If you think you're gonna bully my child, go somewhere else. It's not going to happen. I won't stand for it.'
Defending Dave Chappelle
Wayans also addressed his friendship with comedian Dave Chappelle, who faced backlash for controversial remarks about trans people in a 2021 Netflix special. Wayans said he does not believe Chappelle is hateful. 'I wouldn't hang with Dave if he was full of hate. I don't hang with people like that.'
He described Chappelle as a comedian who does not 'punch down' or bully others in his sets. 'Dave wants to freely tell his jokes, and if you're going to be anti-comedy, then he's going to keep attacking you until you learn to have a sense of humor. He's just standing there and defending his front line as a comedian.'
Wayans continued, 'As a comedian, I respect his journey. And as a friend, I respect his journey. And for my child, I respect their journey.' He added that his unique position as both a father and a friend allows him to bridge the gap: 'I'm between them, so I can explain both sides to each other.'
