Sade Adu is famous for hits like “Smooth Operator” and “No Ordinary Love,” yet she has always guarded her private life. That is why fans keep asking about her only child, Izaak Theo Adu.
Izaak is an artist, a model, and a transgender man who has shared parts of his journey on his own terms. In 2024, his mother’s song “Young Lion” put him back in the spotlight. This guide covers his background, career, marriage, and the story behind that song.
Quick Bio Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Izaak Theo Adu |
| Professional Name | Izaak Adu-Watts |
| Birth Year | 1996 |
| Birthplace | England |
| Mother | Sade Adu |
| Father | Bob Morgan |
| Siblings | None (Sade’s only child) |
| Profession | Artist and model |
| Art Interests | Painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, illustration |
| Other Skills | Carpentry and joinery |
| Fashion Work | Burberry, Savage X Fenty, Vetements |
| Spouse | Emily Margaret Shakeshaft |
| Marriage | 2021, Hawaii |
| Publicly Came Out | 2016 |
| Known For | Art, modeling, and being Sade’s son |
Who Is Izaak Theo Adu?
Izaak Theo Adu is the only child of British-Nigerian singer Sade Adu and Jamaican music producer Bob Morgan. His mother’s fame brought attention to his name, but he chose a different creative road.
He works in visual art and craftsmanship, and he has modeled for well-known fashion houses. He has also spoken openly about being transgender. Together, these parts of his life give him a public identity that is connected to Sade but not defined by her.
Izaak Theo Adu’s Early Life
Izaak was born in 1996 and grew up in England. Earlier biographical notes from his own website say he spent his first years in London. His family later moved to the southwest of England when he was about nine.
He attended a Steiner school until around age 13. He has said that time helped him appreciate nature and sparked his love of art.
Sade kept her family out of the press, so very little of his childhood was ever public. Most of what fans know today comes from photos and memories Izaak shared himself.
His Education And Love Of Art
Art has been the steady thread in Izaak’s life. He completed a two-year art foundation course at SGS College, where he tried illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and printmaking. He then studied for several years in Brighton.
He also trained in practical skills. After his studies, he worked with his father in carpentry and joinery.
His published work includes portraits and drawings of cultural figures and family members. In a Vogue interview, he said he has been drawing for as long as he can remember, even at dinner tables with his mother’s friends.
Who Are Izaak Theo Adu’s Parents?
Izaak’s parents both have strong ties to music.
- Mother: Helen Folasade Adu, known as Sade. Born in Nigeria and raised partly in England, she fronts the band Sade, known for soulful, jazz-tinged pop.
- Father: Bob Morgan, a Jamaican music producer.
Izaak speaks warmly of both. He has shared advice from his father about keeping his eyes on the horizon when life gets hard.
Growing Up As Sade’s Only Child
Being the only child of a global star could have meant a childhood in front of cameras. For Izaak, it mostly did not.
Sade separates her career from her home life and rarely turns family moments into publicity. As a result, Izaak grew up largely outside the celebrity news cycle.
As an adult, he has offered his own glimpses. He posts childhood photos with her and has celebrated her publicly, including by wearing clothing that features her image.
Izaak Theo Adu’s Transition Journey
Izaak came out as transgender in 2016. Since then, he has shared selected moments of his transition on social media, including hard stretches and happy milestones.
In 2019, he marked a major step in his journey with an emotional post. It admitted how tough the process had been, but it was full of thanks and hope.
His transition is only one part of his story. His art, modeling work, marriage, and family bonds matter just as much.
How Sade Supported Izaak
In that 2019 post, Izaak thanked his mother for standing by him through a demanding six months. He praised her encouragement and called her his “Queen of queens.”
This context matters for “Young Lion.” The song carries regret, so listeners might assume Sade rejected him at first. Izaak says otherwise. He has said there is nothing he needs to forgive her for, because she let him be himself.
So the song is better read as a mother looking back at what she wishes she had understood sooner. It is not proof of a broken relationship.
Izaak Theo Adu’s Career As An Artist
Long before fashion, there was art. Izaak’s studies let him try many mediums instead of locking into one.
Here are the skills that shape his creative identity:
- Drawing and illustration
- Painting and printmaking
- Photography and sculpture
- Carpentry and joinery
The common thread is making things by hand. That hands-on approach gives him an artistic voice that is separate from his mother’s music.
Izaak Theo Adu’s Modeling Career
Modeling introduced Izaak to a global fashion audience. His résumé includes these key moments:
- 2020: Runway debut for Burberry at London Fashion Week (Fall 2020), followed by a campaign.
- 2021: Returned to Burberry for Spring 2021 and joined Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3.
- 2024: Walked for Vetements.
He told Vogue he almost did not believe the Savage X Fenty invitation was real, since he had long been a Rihanna fan. These credits show a legitimate fashion career rather than a side note to his mother’s fame.
Is Izaak Theo Adu Married?
Yes. Izaak married Emily Margaret Shakeshaft in Hawaii in 2021. Published accounts say the couple first met online before their relationship grew into marriage.
Emily has talked about growing up in a conservative setting where trans experiences were rarely discussed in a positive light. Her relationship with Izaak gave her a closer, more personal understanding.
Earlier profiles placed the couple in California. Because they keep daily life private, that detail may be out of date.
Sade’s Young Lion And Its Meaning
In October 2024, Sade released “Young Lion,” her first new song in six years. It was written for Izaak.
The track appears on Transa, a Red Hot Organization compilation that celebrates transgender and nonbinary artists. The project features more than 100 artists across 46 songs.
Instead of telling Izaak’s story for him, Sade looks inward. She reflects on the weight he carried and on her wish that she had understood it sooner. Izaak has said the song grew from a personal letter she gave him for his 21st birthday.
Izaak’s Reaction To Young Lion
Izaak’s response is key to understanding the song. He thanked his mother publicly for the song and video, saying it mattered to him and would matter to many others.
He also sees a wider message. Trans people can face misunderstanding or rejection when they come out. A parent admitting they did not understand at first can give another family hope that people can learn and relationships can grow.
He hopes listeners who want to feel seen by the people closest to them find comfort in it.
Rare Family Footage In The Young Lion Video
The music video, directed by Sophie Muller, arrived alongside the album’s November 2024 release. It uses real home movies of Sade and Izaak spanning nearly three decades.
Viewers see Sade holding him as a baby, traveling together, and spending time on a beach. One standout moment shifts from a young Izaak in his mother’s arms to the adult Izaak running toward her.
For a star who protects her privacy so closely, this was a rare, intimate look at her bond with her only child.
Izaak Theo Adu And Transgender Visibility
By speaking openly, Izaak has made himself visible to people who may see parts of their own lives in his story. He has marked Transgender Day of Visibility and talked about both hardship and family support.
It is more accurate to call him a supporter of trans visibility than to give him a formal activist title. His thoughtful reaction to “Young Lion,” focused on families still learning, shows that approach well.
What Is Izaak Theo Adu Doing Now?
Izaak keeps his daily life low-key, so verified details about his activities in 2026 are limited. What is well documented is his creative range: visual art, carpentry, joinery, and professional modeling.
Earlier reports said he lived in California with Emily. Treat that as a past snapshot, not confirmation of where he lives today.
Why Izaak Theo Adu’s Story Resonates
Curiosity about Izaak starts with Sade, but it does not end there. Here is why his story stays with people:
- He built his own path in art, craft, and fashion.
- He shares meaningful moments without turning his whole life into content.
- He kept a close bond with both parents.
- His response to “Young Lion” shows that love and full understanding do not always arrive together.
That balance makes his story richer than a simple tale of celebrity or identity.
Final Thoughts
Izaak Theo Adu first became known as Sade’s only child, but his own life is just as interesting. Art has been a constant, while carpentry, modeling, and work with Burberry, Savage X Fenty, and Vetements show his range.
“Young Lion” gave the world a rare view of a mother-and-son bond from both sides. Sade shared what she wished she had known earlier, and Izaak made clear she never stopped him from being himself.He is Sade’s son, but he is also an artist, a model, and a husband with a life of his own.
FAQs About Izaak Theo Adu
Who Is Izaak Theo Adu’s Mother?
His mother is Sade Adu, the British-Nigerian singer best known for “Smooth Operator,” “No Ordinary Love,” and “By Your Side.”
Who Is Izaak Theo Adu’s Father?
His father is Bob Morgan, a Jamaican music producer. Izaak once worked alongside him in carpentry and joinery.
What Does Izaak Theo Adu Do?
Izaak is an artist and model. He has worked in drawing, painting, photography, and carpentry, and has modeled for Burberry, Savage X Fenty, and Vetements.
Is Izaak Theo Adu Transgender?
Yes, Izaak is a transgender man. He publicly came out in 2016 and has shared parts of his journey and his family’s support.
Did Sade Support Izaak Theo Adu?
Yes. Izaak says Sade supported him and let him be himself, and he publicly thanked her during his transition.
What Is Sade’s Young Lion About?
It is a personal song Sade wrote for Izaak, released in 2024. It reflects on his struggles and her wish that she had understood them sooner.
James Anderson is a passionate English grammar writer at GlobalMegzine, sharing simple language tips, word meanings, slang guides, and easy grammar knowledge for everyday readers.