Copyright © 2025, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Sections
Tap to enable a layout that focuses on the article.
Focus mode
Show Search

Search Query Submit Search

Advertisement
Entertainment & Arts

Marlon Wayans rips Soulja Boy for transphobic remarks against son: ‘He ain’t been relevant’

Marlon Wayans looks slightly upward wearing a black tuxedo with a black shirt and tie
Comedian Marlon Wayans made a punchline out of Soulja Boy’s music career after the “Pretty Boy Swag” rapper tweeted slurs directed at his transgender son this week.
(Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press)
By Alexandra Del RosarioStaff Writer 
Feb. 13, 2025 2:50 PM PT
  • Share
    Share via Close extra sharing options

For comedian Marlon Wayans, defending his son from transphobic and homophobic comments is no laughing matter. Unless it involves Soulja Boy.

The “Scary Movie” and “White Chicks” star on Wednesday made a punchline of the “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” rapper’s career after the musician dragged Wayans family matters into a social media feud. In a series of tweets this week, Soulja Boy, also known for songs “Crank That” and “Pretty Boy Swag,” used slurs to criticize Wayans, his acting career and his trans son, Kai.

Soulja Boy on Wednesday tweeted a screenshot of reports about Wayans’ support for Kai. Seemingly referencing the 52-year-old comic disguising himself as a white woman for the 2004 comedy “White Chicks,” the rapper wrote: “That ... run in the family huh? @MarlonWayans no wonder u like dressing up as a b— it’s in your blood.” The rapper has since deleted the offensive tweets — but not quickly enough to save himself from a Wayans clapback.

Advertisement
Marlon Wayans looks up with a slightly furrowed brow during a movie premiere

Marlon Wayans says a future comedy special will focus on his transition as a parent of a trans son. ‘What’s important is comedy, my children, change.’

Nov. 13, 2023

“If @souljaboy had a career he could get cancelled for this type of slander,” the “Marlon” star tweeted Wednesday. “Luckily he ain’t been relevant since 2007.”

That was the year Soulja Boy, real name DeAndre Cortez Way, broke out with his catchy hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” and its accompanying dance. He continued to gain traction in the early aughts with songs “Donk,” “Kiss Me Thru The Phone” and “Pretty Boy Swag.” Though his popularity has tapered off in the past decade, the 34-year-old continues to drop new music including his latest album, “The Influence,” released last Friday.

Although it’s unclear how or when the Wayans-Soulja Boy feud began, Billboard reported the beef traces back to the rapper’s decision to perform in January at the Crypto Ball in Washington, D.C., to celebrate President Trump’s inauguration. Like fellow rappers Snoop Dogg and Nelly, who also performed at Trump inauguration events, Soulja Boy defended his performance, saying on Instagram that “Trump put money in my pockets.” He also noted that the president was not at the event.

Advertisement

Days after the inauguration, Wayans appeared on Cincinnati radio station 101.1 The Wiz, where he called for unity during the new administration and shared his two cents about the rappers who performed at the Trump celebrations. “I mean, Soulja Boy, he been canceled. Nobody cares [about] Soulja Boy. Soulja Boy go better get that check,” Wayans said.

Mellow, a transgender woman, poses for a portrait, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, outside of the Norfolk Circuit Court in Norfolk, Va., where she applied for a passport. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

World & Nation

For transgender Americans, passports just got a lot more complicated

A new passport policy is among actions Trump has taken that could stifle rights and legal recognition of transgender, intersex and nonbinary people.

Feb. 8, 2025

He added: “I don’t know if they knew it was [an] underwritten Trump event.”

Soulja Boy hit back at the comedian on Monday, weeks after Wayans’ radio spot, tweeting “u not funny” and he “keep selling ur soul” amid a burst of profanity. A back-and-forth ensued with each of the performers taking jabs at the other’s careers and appearances.

Wayans, currently on his Wild Child comedy tour, revealed his son’s transition during a November 2023 interview with “The Breakfast Club.” At the time, he spoke about “going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance” and praised Kai as “brilliant” and the “most well-read, the smartest Wayans.” He shares children Kai and Shawn with ex-girlfriend Angela Zackery.

Advertisement

Last June, Wayans hit back against a slew of haters who decried his rainbow-adorned Instagram photos celebrating Pride. “As a father of a child in the LGBTQ+ community I show my support. Zero f— what people think. If i lost you… GOOD!,” he wrote in a caption.

Wayans will reunite with brothers Shawn Wayans and Keenen Ivory Wayans for a new chapter of their “Scary Movie” franchise, set to hit theaters next summer. Additionally, the Wayans family will get their flowers at the 56th NAACP Image Awards later this month. The “In Living Color” and “My Wife and Kids” comedy dynasty will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame when the ceremony airs Feb. 22 on BET.

Marlon Wayans

Entertainment & Arts

Marlon Wayans finds comedy in his grief, just like his parents taught him

Wayans’ fourth special, “Good Grief,” which premieres Tuesday on Amazon Prime, offers a front-row seat into his legendary family in a thought-provoking, relatable hour.

June 4, 2024

More to Read

  • Kanye West in February.

    Ye continues to sound off after alleging sex acts with a male cousin. But this time it’s about his kids

    April 22, 2025
  • Soulja Boy In a loose red jacket and pants holding out his left arm and pointing in front of him

    Soulja Boy ordered to pay million after he’s found liable for sexual assault

    April 11, 2025
  • Rapper T.I. poses in sunglasses wearing a dark shirt and jacket

    T.I. sets aside viral family drama to plug son King’s new single, ‘Father Like Sons’

    Nov. 30, 2023
Entertainment & ArtsBreaking NewsStand-Up Comedy
Alexandra Del Rosario

Follow Us

Alexandra Del Rosario is an entertainment reporter on the Los Angeles Times Fast Break Desk. Before The Times, she was a television reporter at Deadline Hollywood, where she first served as an associate editor. She has written about a wide range of topics including TV ratings, casting and development, video games and AAPI representation. Del Rosario is a UCLA graduate and also worked at the Hollywood Reporter and TheWrap.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Most Read in Entertainment & Arts

  • INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 25: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Musician Zach Bryan performs on the Mane Stage during day 1 of the Stagecoach Music Festival on April 25, 2025 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Stagecoach)

    Music

    The best, worst and cringiest of Stagecoach Day 1

  • Los Angeles, CA. April 14, 2025 - Penn Badgley in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 14, 2025. (Matt Seidel/For The Times)

    Television

    Penn Badgley says goodbye to ‘You’: ‘I can’t do this man anymore’

    April 24, 2025
  • a pile of brightly colored books surrounded by clouds

    Books

    The 30 best fiction books of the last 30 years

    April 14, 2025
  • A pile of colorful books surrounded by clouds

    Books

    The 30 best nonfiction books of the last 30 years

    April 14, 2025

Subscribers are Reading

Advertisement

Latest Entertainment & Arts

  • Review

    Survive ‘Until Dawn’ and you beat the game, but horror fans wanting red meat have already won

    April 26, 2025
  • Voices

    Granderson: Against vampires or tyrants, truth is the essential weapon

    April 26, 2025
  • Kennedy Center’s events scheduled for LGBTQ+ Pride celebration canceled, organizers say

    April 25, 2025
  • Kehlani loses Cornell concert: University president cites singer’s ‘anti-Israel’ sentiments

    April 25, 2025
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
A California Times publication

Subscribe for unlimited access
Site Map

Follow Us

    • eNewspaper
    • Coupons
    • Find/Post Jobs
    • Place an Ad
    • Media Kit: Why the L. A. Times?
  • MORE FROM THE L.A. TIMES

    • Crossword
    • Obituaries
    • Recipes
    • Guides
    • L.A. Times Store
    • About/Contact
    • For the Record
    • L.A. Times Careers
    • Manage Subscription
    • Reprints and Permissions
Copyright © 2025, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Content parser: contentLocalUrls |
Total Parsers:1
Memory used: 1.11MB of 22MB
Render time: 4.668 sec., Version: 3.5.4