Marlon Wayans is speaking out again about parenting. During a new interview, the actor, comedian, and father of three condemned spanking children as a form of discipline, saying doing so will only lead to resentment when they’re older.
Marlon Wayans has made headlines before when speaking about parenting. Over the last several years, the “Scary Movie” actor has not only talked about loving his transgender son through thick and thin, but has also talked about the importance of protecting them from harm.
Speaking with Los Angeles radio station 92.3, Wayans said that his opinion on spanking children has changed as he’s aged, noting that it does nothing except drive a wedge between the parent and child.
“Don’t hit’em. Don’t spank your kids, because it shows that you’re a poor communicator. They’re a baby. Why can’t you talk to a baby?” Wayans said. “Every time you spank your kid, you’re taking your potential best friend, and you’re making them your enemy. You’re hurting your potential best friend.”
Marlon Wayans Says Spanking Children Is Not Discipline
Wayans said that he understands people have used spanking as a form of discipline in the past. However, he argued that when parents hit their minor children, it causes way more harm than good.
“And I know you’re trying to teach them, but they don’t need to learn that way. There’s other ways to teach them, and they’ll never forget those spankings,” he said. “There will always be a part of them that resents you for that. It’ll take a lot of prayer and a lot to get over that. So just don’t do that to them.”
Experts Share Why Spanking Children Doesn’t Work
Researchers have released studies over the last several years about the ineffectiveness of spanking children. In 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics said that, based on a slew of studies, physical punishment only leads to more issues down the road.
“The new AAP statement includes data that show that kids who were spanked in their early years were more likely to be more defiant, show more aggressive behavior later in preschool and school, and have increased risk for mental health disorders and lower self-esteem,” Karen Estrella, MD, said, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Estrella later argued that while spanking may instill fear in the moment, the act of hitting a child can “generate more negative behaviors in a child.”
Instead of spanking, researchers and clinicians said parents should try three key steps to discipline their child effectively: establishing a positive and supportive parent-child relationship, using positive reinforcement, and trying other disciplinary actions, such as time-outs or taking away items.
Marlon Wayans Previously Spoke About Protecting His Transgender Son
Wayans has been in the media before regarding his parenting strategies. In 2026, the actor spoke about his natural instinct to protect his transgender son from harm while appearing on the “We In Miami” podcast.
“People could judge and say what they want but at the end of the day that’s my child and I’m gonna love my baby regardless of what anybody says and they should be allowed to have their anonymity and enjoy their life exactly the way they want to enjoy it,” he said. “You can’t beat gay out of someone. You can’t hypnotize someone to not be transgender. You just gotta accept and love them.”
Wayans Went Through Five Stages Of Grief Before Accepting His Child
Wayans previously spoke with Jennifer Hudson about initially struggling with the news that his child was transgender, adding that he went through the five stages of grief before getting to the “beautiful, magical place called acceptance.”
“Those are my babies,” Wayans said, talking about his three children, Shawn, Axl, and Kai. “All this was happening to me at one time, and then it was just like this universal thing: acceptance.”
While getting to that place may have been a challenge initially, the “White Chicks” actor said that he felt much better after embracing his child with open arms.
“And once you accept, you release, give yourself to God, and then everything is all right. It’s better, actually,” he said of the moment.
