"My dad's dementia progresses" - Gabrielle Union shares father's declining mental health, appreciating his presence with throwback pics
Gabrielle Union penned some beautiful words about her family on social media on Sunday. The wife of the former NBA star Dwyane Wade spoke about the deeper relationship she and Wade’s family share together.
On Father’s Day, Union also gave an emotional tribute to her ailing father, who is dealing with dementia. In an Instagram post, she wrote:
“As my Dad’s dementia progresses, I’m left with nothing but gratitude for what a great father I have and all the memories he still remembers,” Union wrote.
Union also spoke about the deeper relationship that all the important men in her family share with each other.
“The importance of the relationship between my Dad and my husband, as men and mostly certainly as fathers who cherish their children, is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received.”
“I’m also grateful for the gift of my father-in-law and the care with which he takes with my Dad and his son. Happy Father’s Day to all who celebrate and massive hugs for those suffering on this day.”
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade share a big family together. They have five children together. Union has two children Zaire Wade and Zaya Wade through her marriage with the Miami Heat legend. She also has a daughter Kaavia Wade who was born in 2018.
Wade also has legal custody of his nephew Dahveon Morris and his other son Xavier Wade, whom he had with Aja Metoyer.
Gabrielle Union opened up about her 'daddy issues'
Despite being a Hollywood actress, Union has been upfront about dealing with low self-confidence at a point in her life. In an episode of the Skip Intro podcast with Krista Smith in 2023, Union discussed her issues with validation. She said she wanted someone to tell her she was “cute, attractive, lovely, whatever.”
When Union consulted the therapist, she was told that she had 'daddy issues' that she was apparently dealing with. However, when she confronted her father and asked him why he never told her that, his reply gave her yet another perspective on her life.
“I was like, ‘Why did you never tell me I was pretty?’ And he was like, ‘Pretty doesn’t pay the bills. You’re Black. I’m Black. Your mom’s Black. Your grandparents are Black. We didn’t come from sh*t. I came from the projects. Being pretty never helped any of us.
"'So I thought I was encouraging you to be a great athlete, to be a great student, to be a great person,’ Union said, recounting his father's words.”
Gabrielle Union has been actively outspoken about the issues of the physical and mental health of women in America. She has also led a movement that tries to spread awareness about the stigma related to early menopause in women.