Wanda Sykes revealed that her twins, Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude, asked if they could start using Instagram after they turned 16 on April 27
During an April 28 appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, she acknowledged that Instagram is free, but she is hesitant to give them access to the app
The actress and comedian welcomed her children with her wife, Alex Sykes, in 2009
Wanda Sykes is a proud mom to twins Olivia Lou and Lucas Claude. However, she doesn’t want to give them the free gift that they asked for as they turn 16.
The 61-year-old actress and comedian’s children, whom she shares with her wife Alex Sykes, celebrated the milestone birthday on April 217. During a Monday, April 28, appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Wanda was asked what Olivia and Lucas asked for as a birthday gift.
She said that they wanted to start using Instagram, but she wants to keep them off social media.
Related: Wanda Sykes’ 2 Kids: All About Olivia and Lucas
Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty
Wanda and Alex Sykes in April 2024
“They texted us today. They want Instagram,” Wanda said, prompting host Stephen Colbert to point out that the app is free, meaning it is a very easy gift.
That wasn’t a convincing enough argument for Wanda, who received applause from the crowd when she made it clear that she didn’t want Olivia and Lucas on the app yet.
“Do you know what the hell is on Instgram?” she asked, agreeing with Colbert that being on the app sucks “all the life out of them.”
Wanda continued, joking, “They’re really good kids right now. They’re smart, social. They’re polite. They’re good kids. I’m nervous they get on Instagram [and] next thing you know, my son … He turns into a little Proud Boy, and I’ve got to throw him out.”
While Wanda does have a presence on social media, she told Colbert that she uses it mainly for work.
“I’m not one of those, ‘Ooh, I’ve got to post. Ooh, let me show you what I ate,’ ” she joked.
PEOPLE exclusively reported that Wanda and Alex had welcomed their twins in May 2009. The couple exchanged vows in 2008. While they have taken steps to preserve Olivia and Lucas’ privacy, Wanda has spoken about them occasionally over the years.
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During a March 2025 appearance on Today with Jenna & Friends, Wanda said that the twins were going to start driving soon since they were turning 16. It doesn’t sound like she’ll be their teacher, though.
“I’m not getting in the car with them! They don’t know how to drive! Why in the world would I risk all this to get in the car with them?” she asked.
Back in 2016, she teased that the kids were bad at giving gifts while appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “They’re 7, so to me, I’d just rather have a hug and a ‘Happy Mother’s Day!’ But when they’re that age ― and moms know ― you have to be a good actress. That’s when you gotta turn into Meryl Streep,” she said, per HuffPost.
“So I just had to go, ‘Oh, that’s amazing! Oh, that’s so beautiful!’ And they were so proud. But now I understand why athletes buy their moms a house when they make it ― because they really should to make up for this crap,” she joked.
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