Back in April, social media was buzzing after pictures surfaced showing Gabriel Union and Dwyane Wade at the Gay Pride Parade in full support of their 11-year-son, Zion.

The shock of seeing it for most brought upon a ton of criticism and trolls to throw their slander on how they felt about it.

Wade had never spoken out about the situation until he recently sat down with Variety to fire back at the critics and explain why it was important for him to support his younger son attending a pride parade last spring.

“I don’t really talk about it much because it’s Zion’s story to tell,” Wade said to Variety during an interview at Cannes Lions, the annual advertising conference in the South of France. “I think as a family, we should support each other. That’s our job. And my job as a father is to facilitate their lives and to support them and be behind them in whatever they want to do.”

“I’m asked a question about my kids a lot from a sports perspective,” Wade said. “I think people expect you to parent each kids the same. They are all different, and I have to get to know them and where they are. I have to say to most parents, get to know your kids. Don’t put your wants and needs on them.”

Wade admitted that he was shocked about the amount of criticism and backlash on social media.

“This is my job as a father,” Wade said. “I’m very uneasy about accolades that come from supporting my kids or the negativity that comes from it. I’m doing what every parent has to do. Once you bring kids into this world, you become unselfish. It’s my job to be their role model, to be their voice in my kids’ lives, to let them know you can conquer the world. So, go and be your amazing self and we’re going to sit back and just love you.”