Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade’s 12-Year-Old Son Wore Fake Nails on Thanksgiving, and Some Idiots Got Upset About It

Marci Robin

Perhaps I'm biased as a Miami Heat fan, but I love Dwyane Wade. I loved watching him play (we miss you!), I love his love with Gabrielle Union, and I especially love the support he shows for all of his children — especially 12-year-old Zion, one of his sons from a previous marriage and Union's stepson. Wade and Union have enthusiastically encouraged Zion to be himself, celebrating moments like when he attended the Miami Beach Pride Parade earlier this year. The couple received backlash from homophobic trolls on social media after the parade, and unfortunately, the cruel comments rolled in again after the family shared a sweet photo on Thanksgiving.

Union posted a photo of herself with Wade, Zion, and baby Kaavia posing on a staircase, along with the caption, "Grateful ❤❤❤ Happy Thanksgiving good people. To all the friends and family that have my back and all the friends and family I've never met who show love and support when everyone is looking and when no one is looking...All praise, gratitude and thankfulness." But despite the beautiful message on an equally beautiful family photo, some commenters chose to focus on Zion's crop top and his long, pointy manicure.

Judgmental trolls began parent-shaming the couple, leaving comments like, "Why does his son have his nails done and dressed like a girl? 🤔" and, "Smh wtf this lil boy got nails on for? I've lost all respect for D Wade." Thankfully, far more fans filled the comments with love for Zion's look — and for the way Wade and Union let him freely and happily express himself — but understandably, Wade felt that he needed to come to Zion's defense, as any supportive father would, as well as let the trolls know that they don't get a say in how he raises his children.

On Saturday, Wade took to Twitter to write, "I’ve seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo. Stupidity is apart of this world we live in—so i get it. But here’s the thing—I’ve been chosen to lead my family not y’all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love & a smile! ✌🏾"

His steadfast and open support for Zion has garnered praise from countless fans, one of whom wrote, "Idk if @DwyaneWade & @itsgabrielleu know how POWERFUL & MOVING it is that they’re embracing their son’s individuality. (Damnit I’m crying) In our community, being given autonomy over your body, beliefs, image, & statements as a child isn’t a thing. That child is free & happy 🙌🏾." Wade retweeted that comment, adding, "As a parent my only goal is that my kids feel that i see them, love them and support them."

So if you see me wearing my Wade shirsey every single day for the rest of the year, you know why.

More absolutely unnecessary parent-shaming that celebrities have had to deal with:

Now watch this video about dispelling myths about gender norms:

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Originally Appeared on Allure