Roxie Washington, mother of George Floyd’s daughter, tearfully speaks out

George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter Gianna talks about her dad: ‘I miss him’

The video of George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter saying “Daddy changed the world” is going viral, and so is her recent interview on Good Morning America.

Gianna feels a void with her father gone. In an interview with Good Morning America, Gianna was asked what she wants people to know, and she said “kinda that I miss him.” The 6-year-old (who wants to be “a doctor. So I can help people”) and her mom remember Floyd as the kind of dad who would play all day when he could and worked hard to provide for his daughter.

Few can comprehend how hard this week was for this little 6-year-old who just lost her dad and now has the world’s attention on her. In a matter of days, she’s gone from overhearing her father’s name on the news to giving news interviews herself.

Gianna and her mom should not be in this situation.

At first, it was was hard for her mom, Roxie Washington, to explain what happened, and why everyone on TV kept saying Gianna’s dad’s name. “The only thing I could tell her is he couldn’t breathe,” Washington told CNN.

Gianna now understands the circumstances of her father’s death and its impact on the world, as much as a 6-year-old can understand this kind of horrific injustice.

Her dad’s good friend, NBA player Stephen Jackson (who was so close with Floyd he called him his “twin”) set up a GoFundMe page for Gianna and has raised $1,369,190 as of this writing.

On his Instagram page, Jackson is sharing photos of himself carrying Gianna (or GiGi) on his shoulders, the way her dad George used to, and he’s made a promise to his friend: “Don’t worry Twin on my soul I got GiGi. Know dat. I am my brother’s keeper and I got a lot of brothers. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #ivehadenough Rest Easy Twin.”

On Good Morning America he explained this to Washington: “There’s a lot of stuff that you said that he’s going to miss that I’m going to be there for. I’m going to walk her down the aisle. I’m going to be there for her. I’m going to be here to wipe your tears … Floyd might not be here but I’m going to be here for her.”

Jackson should not have had to step into Floyd’s shoes and Gianna should still have her father with her. Around the country and around the world people are standing up to say Floyd’s death was wrong and that no more children can have their fathers taken from them. Gianna is right—her dad is changing the world.

Kanye West will pay for Gianna Floyd’s college education

The GoFundMe page campaign set up by George Floyd’s friend, NBA player Stephen Jackson to support Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter Gianna is not the only help this little girl will get.

A representative for Kanye West told ABC News that West will pay for Gianna’s college education (which is great news, since Gianna wants to be a doctor when she grows up). ABC News reports “West has donated $2 million to charities associated with Ahmaud Arbery , Breonna Taylor and George Floyd , set up a college fund for 6-year-old Gianna Floyd, and has promised to pay legal costs for the families of Arbery and Taylor.”

Like Floyd, West has a 6-year-old daughter, North, who he shares with his wife Kim Kardashian. The couple are also raising 4-year-old Saint, 2-year-old Chicago and 1-year-old Psalm.