Dani Laidley discusses heartbreaking family rift on The Project: ‘It’s the biggest black hole in my life’
Dani Laidley opened up on Tuesday about the sadness she feels over being estranged from her daughters Brooke and Molly.
The former AFL star player, 56, spoke to Waleed Aly on The Project and revealed she was heartbroken after her daughters stopped speaking to her following her gender transition.
‘It’s the biggest black hole in my life. I can only imagine what they went through with friends and colleagues,” she began.
Laidley admitted she believes her daughters think she “chose” to transition to Dani despite their feelings.
‘That is absolutely not the case. I chose to live and be here, but it has to be like me, otherwise it isn’t like this at all. The decision to be here like me is theirs.”
Dani Laidley opened up on Tuesday about the sadness she feels over being estranged from her daughters Brooke and Molly. Pictured: Dani with her son Kane
Dani then said that she was hopeful about the future because she heard that one of her daughters had asked a relative for a copy of her Don’t Look Away memoir, which showed that they are still interested in her life.
Laidley was joined in the interview by her son Kane, the only of her three children with ex-wife Joanne, from whom she is not estranged.
It comes after Dani revealed the huge risk she took while still hiding her true self from family, friends and football stars while coaching at North Melbourne.
The former AFL star player, 56, spoke to Waleed Aly (pictured) on The Project and revealed she was heartbroken after her daughters stopped speaking to her following her sex change
Dani revealed that her son Kane’s support had helped her through some tough times
The new Stan Original Documentary Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes shows the 56-year-old meeting former teammates and players for the first time since her struggle with her gender identity and transitioning to a woman became public.
Before switching, Danielle played in the AFL for West Coast and then North Melbourne as Dean Laidley.
The Stan Original documentary Revealed – Danielle Laidley: Two Tribes doesn’t premiere until September 19 Stan.
Laidley admitted she believes her daughters think she ‘chose’ to move on to Dani despite their feelings
The documentary also reveals the shocking way her children discovered she was transitioning, as well as the poignant moment she recounts her suicide attempt.
In 2020, Dani’s life spiraled out of control when she was arrested on stalking charges amid a battle with drug addiction.
A Victorian police officer leaked photos to the media of Dani in custody, who publicly exposed her before coming out to other family members and friends.
In the documentary she talks candidly about her life as a transgender woman in the closet, her arrest and how she has found her true self over the past three years.
Dani then said she was hopeful about the future because she heard that one of her daughters had asked a relative for a copy of her Don’t Look Away memoir, showing that they are still interested in her life.