Following their marriage over ten years ago, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union became the ultimate Hollywood power couple.
Between basketball fame and Hollywood breakthroughs, celebrity sweethearts, Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union’s relationships have survived through the years. Their love story, despite being plagued with several pitfalls, can easily pass for the typical fairy tale romance.
In the last decade, the couple has lived through a cheating scandal, a third party’s pregnancy, and fertility struggles. Welcoming their baby girl, Kaavia James, in 2018, crowned their undeterred relationship, marking a new beginning for the pair.
A LOOK INTO GABRIELLE UNION AND DWYANE WADE’S RELATIONSHIP
Gabrielle Union’s relationship with Dwyane Wade began with their first meeting in 2007. The two ran into each other at a super bowl event, which they were both co-hosting. Union, who was 34 at the time, was dealing with her 2006 divorce from ex-husband, Chris Howard.
Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade was married to Siohvaughn Funches. The former Miami Heat star, then 25, was already a father to two of his kids, Zaire and Zaya(Zion). He eventually filed for divorce from Funches in June 2007.
Despite their nine-year age gap, the pair eventually got together. Union has been candid about her initial perceptions about the basketball champion and being younger than him. She admitted:
“When I met Dwyane, his resume looked like crap: athlete, going through a divorce, nine years younger than me.”
However, after going through another painful breakup, she decided age was just a number. She eventually gave in to her feeling for him, offering their relationship a chance.
FIGHTING TO MAKE IT WORK
The onset of their romance brought its fair share of media criticism, with many labeling Union as a “homewrecker,” considering she was only a month divorced. Wade’s ex-wife, Funches, made it no easier, implying the actress caused her divorce. She eventually filed a lawsuit against Gabrielle Union for causing emotional distress.
However, the court dismissed the suit for lack of adequate proof on Funches’s side. A year after the 2010 lawsuit, Wade also won sole custody of his two children with Funches.
Union and Wade’s relationship progressed in public eyes, with the two gracing social events, supporting each other’s careers and featuring as a couple on magazine covers. Sadly, their love fest hit a rough patch in 2013, leading to a brief breakup. The “Bring It On” actress cited distance and scheduling as reasons for the split.
After spending the summer apart, the two realized having a successful career was not worth sacrificing their relationship. They got back together eventually, with a decision to put their family above work scheduling. But it was almost too late for the pair.
DEALING WITH INFIDELITY
During their time apart, Wade had a brief fling with Aja Metoya. The affair led Metoya to become pregnant with the athlete’s child. Following their April 2013 reconciliation, Wade hit Union with the shocking revelation, which he once recalled, was the hardest thing he’s ever had to do.
Union forgave and overlooked the slip and was on hand to witness the arrival of Wade’s youngest son, Xavier, in 2013.
THE BIG PROPOSAL
Dwyane Wade proposed to Union with the help of his kids, each voicing the question, “Will You Marry Us?” The pair became engaged in December 2013, with Wade sealing the pact with a $1 million band.
In a later interview, Wade explained the significance of the epic proposal, which was a way of letting her know she was not only becoming Dwyane Wade’s wife but taking in his three children as well.
GABRIELLE UNION AND DWYANE WADE’S MARRIAGE
Eight months after their engagement, Union and Wade made their union official, tying the knot on August 30, 2014. The ceremony took place in Miami, graced by several celebrities.
Following the glam wedding, the duo set out on their honeymoon at the Maldives.
WELCOMING BABY KAAVIA
Union stayed by Wade’s side after their marriage, being the best stepmother to his amazing kids. After years together, the actress wanted her own child but had difficulty getting pregnant. As a result, she opted for IVF, which led to eight or nine miscarriages.
The couple eventually turned to surrogacy. On November 7, 2018, Wade and Union welcomed their daughter, Kaavia James, via surrogacy.
BEING SUPPORTIVE PARENTS
The Hollywood sweethearts have proven to be the best parents to their children over the years. In addition to being a constant presence in their lives, the two have supported them through important life decisions.
In 2019, when their then-eleven-year-old son, Zion, summoned the courage to come out as transgender. The young lad announced to the world that he wanted to henceforth identify with the female gender.
Union proved her undying support to the preteen, accompanying her to the 11th annual Miami Beach Pride parade, the child’s first public identification with the LGBTQ community.
Although the move garnered widespread criticisms against the couple and their supposed irrational decision to blindly support the kid, Gabrielle Union spoke up in their defense. The proud parents also reaffirmed their support for Zaya (Zion), and how proud they were of her relentless courage.