Marlon Wayans’ next comedy special is about loving his transgender child

Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans brought in cult classic comedies to the silver screen. After starring alongside his brother, Shawn, in the The Wayans Bros. show, the duo joined forces again for films like White Chicks, Scary Movie, and Scary Movie 2.

For this Wayans brother, making people laugh is a family affair. So for his next act, he’s bringing his transgender child along with him, but unlike other comedians, his kid won’t be a part of the punchline. 

In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, Wayans revealed that his child, Kai, is trans. To talk about his journey learning to love Kai unconditionally as a trans person, Wayans is summing it all up in a comedy special with two working titles: Skittles or Rainbow Child.

“I have a daughter that transitioned into a son. My daughter Amai is now Kai, and so, I talk about the transition. Not his…their transition, but my transition as a parent, going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance.”

Wayans disclosed the challenge he had becoming accustomed to using Kai’s pronouns, which are they/them. However, he stated how he has to “respect their wishes” and how he ultimately wants his “kids to be free in spirit, free in thought, free to be themselves.” 

“The more you know yourself, the more you can govern yourself, the more you live your truth, the happier your existence,” Wayans said. “So, if they can’t get that in the household with their father and their mother, how the f*** do I send them out into the world with that kind of confidence? And I’m just so proud of them for being them.”

Wayans’ interview comes after the release of Netflix’s trailer for the upcoming film The Dads. The documentary captures a fishing trip in Oklahoma between doting dads connected by one purpose: loving their trans children unconditionally. 

While many continue to support anti-trans legislation and push anti-trans sentiment, Wayans and films like The Dads (and its producer Dwyane Wade, proud dad of trans daughter Zaya Wade) prove that there are still parents who fight against this and advocate with their trans children and the trans community. 

Check out the full interview below:

Related:

Comedian Kai Choyce talks transphobia, aging, and healing through his comedy special ‘Kaipocalypse’

“Some jokes I will only do in LGBTQ+ rooms though, and if you wanna know what those are, come out to a show and present your membership card at the door.”