Hollywood actress Gabrielle Union has shared candid details about how her relationship with retired NBA star Dwyane Wade initially faced skepticism from his family due to their nine-year age gap.
Union, 52, who began dating Wade, 43, in 2009 before marrying him in 2014, revealed on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast that while some members of Wade’s family welcomed her warmly, others were more cautious.
“When I first met his family, the older sisters, who are closer in my age, immediately [accepted me]. We’re good in the hood,” she said. “But with [older sister] Tragil, because she has been the protector… She has been the watchdog. She has been the gatekeeper to keep him sane and to keep him doing everything he needs to do without interference from anybody.”
Union explained that both Tragil and Wade’s mother, Jolinda, were particularly protective and questioned her intentions in the early stages of the relationship. “Before I got to the wife stage, like when we were just the very beginning, I think Tragil and his mom were like, ‘What do you want? Who are you, you older lady? What do you want?’” she recalled.
The actress, who was also recovering from a divorce at the time, said she made it clear that her interest in Wade was genuine and not driven by ulterior motives. “I was like, ‘Actually, we both just got divorced, so we’re kind of in the same space. I didn’t have a kid at 20, I’m still childless, and I’m not racing to do that. I got my own bank account, so I’m good. I just like him, we’ll see where it goes.’”
Union admitted that it took “years” for both sides to truly earn each other’s trust. “Now, it’s easy, because we are all on the same side,” she said, emphasizing the importance of patience and mutual understanding in blended families.
Her reflection offers a glimpse into the realities of navigating love, family dynamics, and societal perceptions of age gaps in relationships showing that trust, once earned, can build unshakable bonds.
