Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans has spoken about his transgender child in an interview with Neal Brennan, which aired on October 21, 2024. During their conversation, which centered around ‘controlling as a parent,’ Wayans shared that when his child was 22 or 23, he found himself trying to hold onto an idea of normalcy, particularly when considering his grandchildren.
However, he realized it wasn't his place to impose those thoughts. He focused on supporting his child's happiness, whether they made certain changes or reconsidered them later. His only responsibility, he acknowledged, was to love his child without judgment or criticism. When Brennan asked how he was going to stop them from transitioning, Marlon Wayans said,
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“I was gonna impose sanctions.”
He continued,
“Imposing all those sanctions and he was like so what f*ck it. I will strave. Okay well, I am going to pull you out of school. All right, I guess three and a half years at USC I could get a job. Like f*ck! Nothing was working because this is what they wanted to do and you know, I always said I want my kids to be happy. In order to be happy, you are not going to please everybody.”
Brennan said transitioning was a hard process and wanted to know from Marlon Wayans the phases he had to go through as a parent. The actor emphasized that acceptance played a crucial role in the entire process.
He noted that when faced with certain situations, the focus should not be on the individual but the broader context. He mentioned the necessity of letting go of one's ego, comparing it to trying to control a ship beyond one’s command.
Marlon Wayans said he was a father first and a comedian second
When Brennan asked whether he had tried to talk them out of it, Marlon Wayans admitted that he initially resisted the situation. Although he was not proud of it, he felt embarrassed when he had to confront himself. He realized that while his child’s transition had been a three-year journey, his adjustment took just a week, ultimately leading him to acceptance.
He reflected on the importance of not judging others and expressed hope for parents and families going through similar experiences. As a comedian, he explained that while he may make jokes, his priority remains being a father.
Marlon Wayans emphasized that he treats everyone with the same humor, whether friends, family, or himself, ensuring that humor doesn't overshadow the love and respect he holds for the LGBTQ community, many of whom he knows personally from his experiences in the arts and Hollywood.
In September 2024, during his appearance at The Jennifer Hudson Show, Marlon Wayans reflected that he was stronger than he had previously believed and acknowledged that his family had prepared him to be a pillar of support. As a father of three, including his son Shawn, 22, and daughter Axl, 21 months, he mentioned going through the five stages of grief to reach a positive state of acceptance.
Marlon Wayans had also faced the loss of his parents in recent years, with his mother, Elvira Alethia, dying at 81 in July 2020 and his father, Howell Stouten, dying at 86 in April 2023.
He shared with Hudson that all these events were happening simultaneously, leading him to a universal understanding of acceptance. Once he embraced that acceptance, he felt a sense of release, surrendering to God.
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