Marlon Wayans on Supporting His Trans Son: 'You Just Gotta Accept and Love Them'

Marlon Wayans is opening up about what it’s been like to support his transgender son, Kai. In a recent interview, the comedian reflected on his growth as a parent and made it clear that love comes first, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Marlon Wayans has been vocal about his support for his transgender son, Kai, and he’s not sugarcoating what that journey has been like.

In a recent sit-down on the "We In Miami" podcast, the comedian opened up again about what it means to parent a trans child — and how he’s learned to show up.

“My natural instinct as a father,” he said, “is to protect my child. “People can judge and say what they want, but at the end of the day, that’s my child, and I’m going to love my baby regardless of what anybody says. And they should be allowed to have their anonymity and enjoy their life exactly the way they want to enjoy it.”

He added, “You can’t beat the gay out of somebody or hypnotize somebody to not be transgender.” “You just gotta accept and love them.”

This wasn’t the first time Wayans publicly spoke about Kai’s transition. Back in 2023, while promoting a comedy special that includes material about his family, he shared on "The Breakfast Club" how he was navigating his own “transition as a parent.”

“Not her… his… their transition, but my transition as a parent, going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance,” he said.

Still figuring it out

Wayans doesn’t pretend to have everything figured out. He’s been honest about struggling with pronouns and language, but says that what matters most is the effort and the love.

“They know I love them. They see me try and they’re like, I’m happy,” he said in 2023. “It was a very painful situation for me but, man, it’s one of the best, funniest hours I probably could ever imagine,” he added, talking about the experience of writing and performing the material in his stand-up set.

The message, he said, is meant for other parents who might be on a similar path: “I think there’s a lot of parents out there that need to have that message… I want them to be free in spirit, free in thought, free to be themselves.”

Public support, private stakes

Wayans has stayed consistent in defending his child, both in private and in public. In 2024, he posted a rainbow-themed photo shoot on Instagram with a message of love for the LGBTQ+ community.

That same year, he clapped back at rapper Soulja Boy for taking shots at his family, writing on X, “If @souljaboy had a career, he could get cancelled for this type of slander. Luckily, he ain’t been relevant since 2007,” and, “Hey @souljaboy my child had top surgery and still has more chest than you.”

In the "We In Miami" interview, Wayans also gave credit to Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union for how they’ve publicly supported their daughter Zaya.

“I think when you’ve gone through the process, everyone can try and judge, but until you’re a parent of a trans child, take a seat,” he said. “You don’t understand what we struggle with. It’s not instant acceptance, but I call them evolved because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Wayans said he’s trying to do the same. “You’re supposed to align yourself with your children… because you want them to live a nice, happy life.”

“Black family is important,” he said. “And we need more heroes like that.”