Actor Hill Harper apologizes after he was slammed for referring to Dwyane Wade’s transgender child as “young man”
The Good Doctor star, Hill Harper has apologized after he was slammed for “misgendering” Dwyane Wade’s daughter Zaya as he celebrated her on her 13th birthday.
Dwyane Wade shared a number of photos to wish his transgender daughter, Zaya a happy 13th birthday.
Dwyane’s wife Gabrielle Union also shared a birthday post for her stepdaughter.
Zaya was born male and was named Zion but recently came out as trans and changed her name to Zaya.
Responding to Gabrielle’s birthday message to Zaya, Hill Harper called the teen “young man” in the comments.
Hill, 54, wrote: “Happy Birthday young man!! Read Letters to a Young Brother!!!
“Your mom wrote something in it!! You’ll love it! Have a great day!!”
The book Hill Harper was referring to is a self-help guide geared toward men.
Outraged social media users called his comment to Zaya “disgusting,” “Blatantly disrespectful,” and “full of malice.”
Others couldn’t believe the Good Doctor star “had the nerve to do that under HER comment section.”
Following the criticisms, Hill apologized on Twitter, writing: “I would like to apologize for my post. I am responsible for what gets posted and I made a horrible error. I misgendered my friend’s child and I am so sorry to Zaya and the entire Wade family. It was not my intention to misgender and misrepresent her in any way. I celebrate Zaya.
“As a family friend I feel so bad that I may have taken away from the celebration. Zaya’s courage and strength is something I celebrate. And there was absolutely no malicious intent to my post.
“I am human and I am learning and often trying to do too many things which leads to mistakes like this one. I am sorry.
“I’m sorry to those my post offended, that was certainly not my intention.
“There are many challenging things going on in the world right now and I certainly didn’t intend my birthday wish to be a negative distraction and certainly didn’t want it to take away from a celebratory birthday for Zaya. I extend my heartfelt apology to Zaya, the Wade family.”
