Dwyane Wade's Slam Dunk Response to Hate for Supporting Son Going to Miami Pride

Dwyane Wade finally spoke up about his son's participation at a pride parade and why he decided to support it. "That's our job," he said.

“I think as a family, we should support each other.” This is the gist of Dwyane Wade’s message when he recently spoke about his son’s attendance at a pride parade last spring.

PARENTAL PRIDE

If you recall, the NBA star’s 11-year-old son, Zion posted photos of himself attending Miami Pride back in April. He was joined by his stepmother, Gabrielle Union and his siblings. Wade didn’t get to join them because he was touring with the Miami Heat but he made sure his son knew he had his support. He re-posted Zion’s snaps and wrote, “We support each other with Pride!”

“I think as a family, we should support each other. That’s our job."

"THAT'S OUR JOB"

Wade gained a lot of attention for his open-mindedness as a parent. But he never spoke about it until recently in an interview with Variety.

“I don’t really talk about it much because it’s Zion’s story to tell,” he told the publication during the Cannes Lions advertising conference in the South of France. “I think as a family, we should support each other. That’s our job. And my job as a father is to facilitate their lives and to support them and be behind them in whatever they want to do.”

“I think people expect you to parent each kid the same. They are all different."

Wade adds that every parent’s journey is different for every child and it’s important their needs come first.

“I think people expect you to parent each kid the same. They are all different, and I have to get to know them and where they are. I have to say to most parents, get to know your kids. Don’t put your wants and needs on them.”

"Once you bring kids into this world, you become unselfish.”

WADE'S ADVICE TO OTHER PARENTS

Along with the positive comments the basketball star received by supporting his son’s pride parade attendance, there was also negative backlash especially when Zion made his catwalk debut in a runway event hosted by his father. To this, Wade says,

“I’m very uneasy about accolades that come from supporting my kids or the negativity that comes from it. I’m doing what every parent has to do. Once you bring kids into this world, you become unselfish.”

For Wade, his job as a parent is to be a role model and be a voice for his children. But beyond that, he must allow them to spread their own wings.

“So, go and be your amazing self and we’re going to sit back and just love you,” he says with his children in mind.

Wade was at Cannes to speak about his recent campaign for Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser. A few weeks back, he was at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He surprised its students when he showed up as their guest speaker for their graduation rites. Wade has been frequenting the school since the tragic shooting that occurred in February 2018. He was especially affected by the incident because one of the victims who died was a fan of his.