At a Glance
- Gabrielle Union posted a video tribute for Dwyane Wade’s 44th birthday on Jan. 17, 2026
- The montage overlays clips of Wade with women repeating “I love you, Black man,” a TikTok trend
- The couple, married since 2014, weathered early family skepticism over their nearly 10-year age gap
- Why it matters: The post spotlights the pair’s lasting bond and Union’s public celebration of Black love
Gabrielle Union turned Instagram into a birthday auditorium for husband Dwyane Wade on Jan. 17, 2026, packing a 60-second montage with affectionate clips and the viral audio of women praising Black men.
The Birthday Post
Union, 53, uploaded the reel at 9 a.m. ET, pairing childhood photos, court highlights, and candid family moments with the trending soundbite. She captioned it: “Happy Birthday Baby. 44 never looked so good ❤️ @dwyanewade.”
The video scored 1.4 million likes in the first six hours and drew birthday wishes from stars including Viola Davis and Kevin Hart.
A Decade-Plus Love Story
- 2007: Union and Wade meet at a Super Bowl party
- 2009: They begin dating after Union’s divorce from Chris Howard and Wade’s separation from Siohvaughn Funches
- 2013: Wade proposes with an 8.5-carat ring after the couple briefly split and reconciled
- Aug. 30, 2014: They marry in a moat-surrounded castle in Miami
The actress became stepmom to Wade’s children Zaire, 23, Xavier, 12, and nephew Dahveon Morris, and the pair welcomed daughter Kaavia James, 7, via surrogate in November 2018.
Family Skepticism
During an August 2025 appearance on Michelle Obama’s IMO podcast, Union recalled early tension with Wade’s relatives over the couple’s age difference.
“Tragil and his mom were like, ‘What do you want? Who are you, you older lady? What do you want?'” Union said, referencing Wade’s sister. “It took some years to earn their trust.”
Wade’s mother, Jolinda, eventually thanked Union for “looring my son,” cementing the family alliance.
First-Date Flashback
On Today with Jenna & Friends in March 2025, Wade admitted he barely processed Union’s words on date one. “I wasn’t really listening,” he confessed. “I was just kind of looking at her eyes and her lips.”
He remembered her intelligence most: “I was very attracted to the intelligence of her mind, but it was unfair because I already knew her as an actress.”
Social Media Reactions
Comments on Union’s post included:
- “Black love wins every time 🖤” – @lalaanthony
- “This trend was made for y’all” – @essence
- “44 looks GOOD on him” – @dwyanewade (replying with heart emojis)
Key Takeaways
Union’s birthday tribute underscores:
- The endurance of their 15-year romantic journey
- Her use of social media to amplify appreciation for Black men
- The evolution from family skepticism to full acceptance
- Wade’s transition from NBA stardom to family-focused entrepreneur
The couple, now filming a joint documentary on blended parenting, continue to fuse personal milestones with public advocacy, turning a simple birthday post into a cultural love letter.
According to News Of Los Angeles, sources close to the pair say Union is planning a private Ghanaian getaway to coincide with Wade’s foundation work later this month, keeping birthday celebrations alive well beyond the Instagram feed.
