A-list actress Gabrielle Union is reevaluating the “50/50” approach to her marriage with Dwyane Wade. She acknowledges that her perspective has shifted since her 2023 statement about splitting everything evenly in their relationship. In a recent appearance on the Balanced Black Girl podcast, the Being Mary Jane star revealed how her views on partnership and vulnerability have evolved.
ICYMI, Union had once famously said, “50/50 or bust,” meaning that she wanted to equally divide all aspects of her relationship—financially, emotionally, and spiritually—with Wade. Reflecting on that stance, she explained, “I famously said, ’50/50 or bust,’ right? And I meant that financially, spiritually, and emotionally.” However, she admitted that her feelings have changed as she navigates her marriage. “There’s just a lot of days that I have 10% and I need him to be 90%. There’s days that I don’t have sh*t and I need him to be 100%. It’s a trauma response and 50/50 is, ‘I’m not going to be vulnerable enough to trust you with 100% of anything. Not my heart, not my cash.’”
The veteran Hollywood star then shared her journey toward understanding her feelings around “50/50,” especially when it came to financial responsibility. She recalled a moment of intense anxiety, realizing that maintaining the “50/50” standard was more about control than anything else. “When I started to really address that, I was like, ‘Do you want to pay the whole mortgage?’ I thought I was about to die. I had such anxiety. I was crying. I was shaking. And he was like, ‘You insisted on that.’ He’s like, ‘I thought it made you feel better.’ I’m like, ‘It did, and right now I want to take it back,’” Union admitted.
What’s more, this self-reflection, she discovered that the issue wasn’t purely financial—it was about vulnerability and trust. “It was less about the money and more about relinquishing control and being vulnerable—which was something I hated,” Union shared.
Despite the challenges, Union believes this shift has strengthened her relationship with Wade. “It’s being vulnerable enough to be open enough to know that I’m okay. I’m okay as his wife. He’s okay as my husband. I’m okay in this family. I’m okay in this home. I deserve it. And so, I’m trying to expand my heart, expand all of the notions of what vulnerability can look like,” she said.
Union’s change in perspective also stems from her comments during a May 2023 interview with Bloomberg, in which she mentioned that it felt “weird” to consider herself the head of the household when she and Wade shared responsibilities equally. A month later, Wade appeared on Club Shay Shay, sharing that while they have separate responsibilities, Union had offered to split their mortgage to ensure their home never felt like it was only his.