Shawn Howell Wayans Is Dad’s Mini-Me - Facts about Marlon Wayans’ Son
Shawn Howell Wayans was born two years after his non-binary sister. The 21-year-old is a streamer on Twitch with his cousin, who was honorably named after his famous father. Here is the low down on Shawn's life and a look into his father's undying love for his family.
Shawn Howell Wayans is the son of "The Wayan Bros." star and the youngest of five Wayan brothers, Marlon Wayans. He was born before his father's eight-year marriage with Angelica Zachary, and they separated when he was 11 years old. Since then, his mother has led a private life outside the spotlight.
Shawn's father was caught for infidelity while traveling on a boat near St. Barts. He has kept the details of his marriage with his ex-wife private and continued to do so beyond the separation. However, they have agreed to co-parent, giving Shawn and his sibling a fair opportunity to grow up with both parents.
Marlon Wayans and Shawn Howell Wayans at the Milk and Bookies First Annual Story Time Celebration hosted at The Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California, on February 28, 2010 | Source: Getty Images
Shawn Howell Wayans Just Turned 21 & Is His Dad's Best Friend
Shawn turned 21 in February this year, and his father could not be more proud of the man he has become. Marlon took to Instagram to leave a heartfelt message about his son that would stand as a reminder of how much he loved him, even after his demise. The "White Chicks" star shared a throwback photo of himself and baby Shawn.
Marlon's caption spoke about Shawn and his siblings being his most incredible gift from God, despite the mountainous achievements of his long career. The actor projected that his son is destined for greatness and possesses the qualities of a natural-born leader. He dispelled his undying love for his son, who is indeed his best friend too.
Marlon ended the meaningful caption by reminding his son that he would look out for him in life and death. He promised to stay on his shoulder (like an angel, presumably) and in his heart and mind.
In a 2017 "Entertainment Tonight" interview, Marlon mentioned that he treats his children like friends and maintains an open relationship with them.
Marlon Wayans and Shawn Howell Wayans at the 2011 NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles, California, on February 20, 2011 | Source: Getty Images
The photo shared by Marlon on Shawn's birthday shows the father and son rocking the same hairstyle. Years later, in November 2020, he shared another photo with Shawn, referring to the then-19-year-old as his "sequel."
He repeatedly reiterated his love for Angelica, once smartly using her name to declare that she was an angel in his life and, on another occasion, encouraged men to honor their wives and mothers of their children.
Fans agreed and dubbed Shawn his father's "twin" and look-alike. One Instagram user commented interestingly that the Wayan family has strong genes, further approving the movie star's sentiment of his son being the second part of his movie.
Shawn Howell Wayans Streams on Twitch with His Cousin
Shawn is relatively private and keeps a distance between the limelight and himself. However, he does Twitch live streams with his cousin on the Twitch profile, marlonandshawn. The pair have been inactive lately, with their latest stream being two months old. They have a total of 243 followers at the time of this writing.
Like Marlon and his siblings, Shawn shares a close bond and partnership with his cousin. The most exciting part of their relationship is that Shawn was named after his cousin's father, and his cousin was named after his father. They spend much time together off-screen, and Shawn shares pictures of their moments.
Shawn's father also enjoys time out with the juniors and occasionally shares pictures of them having a good time. He shared a photo from Shawn's 21st birthday dinner and another from January, with his son and nephew at a football game. One Instagrammer once commented that the story behind their names is the ultimate sign of respect.
Shawn Howell Wayans Has a Sibling Who Is Transgender
Shawn was born two years after his sibling Amai Zackary Wayans, who is now referred to as Kai Zachery Wayans. Kai came out as non-binary in 2019 and has undergone a transgender change. Marlon, who is ever supportive of his children, shared a tribute on Instagram for his trans child, saying:
"Happy pride 🌈 to my pride and joy. I wouldn't change one effing thing about you. Love you to the moon, around the sun, through the galaxies, and back again."
Shawn's father shared a National Son's Day tribute in September last year and included Kai in his Instagram post, jokingly ridiculing their old class photos. According to Kai's Instagram bio, his pronouns are he/they, and he is a USC student poised to graduate sometime this year. He also hosts a radio show that airs every Monday at 18:00.
Those interested in hearing Kai's radio show can tune into kxsc.org at the stipulated time or download the KXSC radio app for a better listening experience.
Shawn Howell Wayans' Divorced Parents Remain Close & Supportive of Each Other
Marlon married Shawn and Kai's mother, Angelica Zachary, in 2005, and they remained together for eight years before divorcing in 2013. Since their split, Angelica has kept a tight lip about her private life and removed herself from the media's attention.
Her life is so private that she has an Instagram account with restricted access, followed by 1842 people at the time of this writing. With their relationship beyond its conclusion and little to no public appearances, the facts about Angelica's life since 2013 have become very scarce.
Shawn's father remained supportive of his ex-wife and, interestingly, did not remarry after they split. He repeatedly reiterated his love for Angelica, once smartly using her name to declare that she was an angel in his life and, on another occasion, encouraged men to honor their wives and mothers of their children.