Saweetie is one of the hottest rappers in the music industry right now. Her catchy songs, such as “My Type” and “Best Friend”, have earned her millions of fans and streams. But did you know that she also has a famous cousin in Hollywood? That’s right, Saweetie is related to none other than Gabrielle Union, the actress and producer who starred in movies like “Bring It On” and “Think Like a Man”. How are they connected, and what is their relationship like? Read on to find out.
The family ties
According to Nicki Swift, Saweetie and Gabrielle Union are second cousins. This means that Saweetie’s father and Gabrielle are first cousins. Saweetie’s grandmother, Joanne Glass, is Gabrielle’s aunt. In fact, Gabrielle revealed that she based her character Eva from the movie “Deliver Us From Eva” on her aunt Joanne.
Gabrielle confirmed their family connection on Twitter in 2018, when a fan asked her if she was related to Saweetie. She replied, “Yup. Her father and I are 1st cousins. Her grandma is my aunt Joanne Glass who I based Eva from ‘Deliver Us From Eva’ on. #FunFact #DozensOfCousins.”
The cousin love
Saweetie and Gabrielle Union are not only cousins, but also friends and supporters of each other. They often show their love and admiration for each other on social media and in public events.
For example, when Saweetie’s hit song “My Type” went viral in 2019, Gabrielle joined the #MyTypeChallenge on Instagram and posted a video of herself dancing to the song. She captioned it, “Always support my fam.”
Saweetie also performed at Gabrielle’s birthday party in 2019, where they both wore matching Clovers cheerleading costumes from Gabrielle’s breakout role in “Bring It On”. They looked like twins as they posed for pictures and danced together.
In 2020, Gabrielle interviewed Saweetie for Elle magazine, where they talked about their careers, their inspirations, and their family bond. Gabrielle praised Saweetie for being a self-made star who worked hard to achieve her dreams. She also revealed that they have a lot in common, such as their love for food, fashion, and music.
In 2021, Gabrielle wished Saweetie a happy birthday on Instagram with a series of photos featuring her cousin. She wrote, “Relax @saweetie it’s your birthday!!! Please wish my lil cuzzo a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY.” She also added hashtags such as #FamilyOverEverything, #WeAllWeGot, #DozensOfCousins.
The talented family
Saweetie and Gabrielle Union are not the only celebrities in their family. They also have other relatives who are famous or successful in different fields.
For instance, Saweetie’s grandfather Willie Harper was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers for over a decade. Her father Johnny Harper was also a football player at San Jose State University with an impressive record. Her mother Trinidad Valentin was a famous video model in the early 2000s, who appeared in videos such as Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me” and DMX’s “What These B*****s Want.”
Saweetie is also related to rap legend MC Hammer and Grammy-winning producer Zaytoven. She told Billboard in 2018, “Our family grew up with the Burrell’s [MC Hammer’s family]. My cousin’s dad is MC Hammer, and another one of my cousins is Zaytoven. We all grew up together and it’s interesting to see how we turned out.”
Gabrielle Union also has some notable relatives in her family tree. According to Ancestry.com, she is a descendant of James Madison Hemings, the son of President Thomas Jefferson and his slave Sally Hemings. She is also related to former NFL player Calvin Hill and his son Grant Hill, who is an NBA legend.
The conclusion
Saweetie and Gabrielle Union are cousins who share a bond of love and respect. They are both successful women in their respective fields of music and acting, but they also have fun together as family members. They are an example of how talent runs in the family, but also how hard work pays off.
