Actor and comedian Marlon Wayans has clapped back at rapper Soulja Boy after the latter used a slur to refer to Wayans’ transgender son, Kai. On February 12, Soulja Boy tweeted a Google Search Engine screenshot showing two 2023 articles from TMZ and Men’s Journal about Marlon embracing his child’s sexuality. Soulja Boy captioned his post with derogatory remarks, attempting to discredit Wayans’ support for his child.
In a swift response, Wayans took to the platform, writing: “Meet a little girl with a big heart RIGHT HERE.” This defiant act of love not only aimed to protect his child but also highlighted his commitment to support and acceptance. Following this, Wayans shared a picture of Soulja Boy alongside his post.
Marlon Wayans first revealed that he has a transgender child in 2023 during an appearance on the radio talk show The Breakfast Club. He shared that his daughter Amai transitioned and now goes by Kai. The former couple, Marlon Wayans and his partner Angela Zackery, welcomed their first child, daughter Amai, in May 2000. Over the years, Kai has attended numerous public events with his father and younger brother Shawn, including the premieres of films like A Haunted House and Fifty Shades of Black.
On Kai’s 22nd birthday in 2022, Marlon Wayans shared a heartfelt post on social media, reminiscing about the joy of his son’s birth and expressing how “time flies.” The following year, he posted a similar birthday tribute, thanking Kai for teaching him how to love unconditionally, stating that he loved him to the “moon and back.” In another touching moment, Marlon shared an image from Kai’s graduation, calling his son the “gift” and himself the “wrapping paper,” encouraging him to “be you, your best you!”
During a November 2023 appearance on The Breakfast Club, Wayans spoke further about his relationship with Kai. The 52-year-old comedian indicated that he was planning a comedy special based on Kai’s transition, emphasizing his desire for his children to “be free.” He mentioned that he was “trying” to be “proud” and “happy” for them while respecting their wishes. His support for Kai was also evident during Pride Month in both 2019 and 2014, where he used social media to celebrate the LGBTQ community.
In September 2024, Marlon Wayans appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show and expressed that Kai remains “the same child they were before — they just got a beard now.” He highlighted that the journey to acceptance was “beautiful” and “magical.” In previous conversations with People Magazine, Wayans reiterated his pride and admiration for his child’s bravery.
The recent online feud between Marlon Wayans and Soulja Boy escalated quickly, with the rapper mocking Wayans’ comedic role in White Chicks, where he goes undercover as a woman. In a follow-up post, Soulja Boy made an offensive comment about Kai, saying, “Ain’t yo son a tranny that suck d**k? @MarlonWayans.” In response to this derogatory statement, Wayans shared a TMZ reel that humorously suggested that the ongoing conflict could inspire new material for a future ‘Scary Movie’ role, dismissively declaring that Soulja should go back to “irrelevancy.”
This situation spiraled when Wayans criticized Soulja Boy for performing at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C.—a celebration of Donald Trump’s win. During the interview with 101.1 The Wiz, Wayans shared his disapproval, which resulted in Soulja retaliating with anti-LGBTQ remarks aimed at Wayans and his family. Wayans countered by asserting that Soulja had substance abuse issues and was allegedly a groomer. The ongoing clash reveals the intensity of the conflict between the two, exposing not only differences in their values but also sparking conversations on acceptance and respect within the community.
