Tisha Campbell's Sons: What We Know About Xen And Ezekiel Martin

This slide includes mention of domestic abuse allegations. 

"Martin" alum Tisha Campbell has often used interviews and social media alike to gush over her two sons, Xen and Ezekiel Martin. It's safe to say, she's one proud mama, and given what we know about them, it's not hard to understand why. 

As Campbell's fans will know, the actor shares sons Xen and Ezekiel with her ex-husband, Duane Martin. The former couple was famously embroiled in a nasty, years-long divorce, which saw claims of domestic abuse and legal issues stemming from financial mismanagement made extremely public. However, one thing that never waivered throughout the process was Campbell's love for her kids — or their love for her. In fact, Campbell has previously applauded them for their kindness and understanding of their new financial situation, post-split. Speaking to ET after her divorce from Duane was finalized, she struggled to hold back tears thinking about it. "The fact that I did raise children who didn't care about the big mansion I had, or ... that I had to start over, or any of it ... Oh, God, I'm not supposed to do this," she chuckled, blinking away tears.

The divorce is just one thing this mother and sons trio has gone through together, however. In fact, one thing we know about both boys is that they've had their mom in their corner, through all the highs and the lows — but always with enough space for them to be able to stand on their own, too. 

If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.

In a 2013 joint interview with Duane Martin on CNikky, Tisha Campbell revealed that their firstborn, Xen Martin was diagnosed with autism at just 18 months old. However, Campbell had a feeling something was up long before then. In fact, she shared that the doctor who made the diagnosis was the fifth they'd seen. That's not to say she reacted well to the news, though. Far from it, she joked that her reaction was a little all over the place: from cursing at the doctor, to physically running away from the appointment, to ultimately accepting that she needed to focus on finding the way forward.

Once she'd spoken with the relevant specialists, Campbell channeled all her energy into helping Xen work past some of the intense sensitivities he experienced as a result of the autism. As she shared on "The Real," she also wanted to do whatever she could to teach him independence. Clearly, Xen was aware of that, and she was overcome with emotion sharing a story about how he'd explained it to his younger brother, Ezekiel Martin. "He was like, 'Mommy helps us be independent, Zeke," she recounted, fighting back tears. 

Independence hasn't been the only thing he's developed, though. Speaking to Essence, Campbell revealed that despite being non-verbal as a child, today Xen believes he's overcome his diagnosis.

Even though Tisha Campbell has always placed a high importance on both of her kids being as independent as possible, she revealed in an interview with "Today" that she still had a number of concerns. In particular, she recounted a time when Xen Martin had gone out to do some shopping on his own. Tisha had been terrified about him not being briefed properly, and noted in particular that she was worried about what might happen if he was approached by police. Though that didn't happen, when he returned home, she asked what he would do if he had been pulled over — and was horrified to see him put his hands behind his back. "I was like, 'No! Don't do that!" she recounted. However, it was a lightbulb moment for the actor, whose brother Stan Campbell happens to be a former police officer and renowned law enforcement trainer. 

Largely inspired by his nephew's diagnosis, Stan co-founded IDD Safe, a company with a number of programs and even apps specifically geared toward preparing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities for police interactions. As for Xen, further than inspiring his uncle, he's actually promoted Stan's Spectrum Shield program in his own words. In one video uploaded to D.O.P.E The Movement's (that is, De-escalating Officer Patrol Encounters) Instagram account, Xen shared that he was the very first person to try the training. "It was really exciting to know that I had a voice. Coming from someone with autism, you guys have a voice. You guys gotta understand, it's important for you to feel heard and listened to."

Between his hands-on mom and uncle, it's safe to say the extended Campbell family has been exceptionally committed to doing just that with Xen! 

Other than participating in the Spectrum Shield program, something else Xen has done since reaching adulthood is getting into his dream college, for his dream degree. That would be, zoology. Tisha Campbell first spoke about her eldest child's studies in a 2020 Instagram post. Noting that Xen had dreamed of being an animal conservationist from the time he was a little boy, she gushed over how determined he'd been to get into the unnamed school. "He didn't wait for anyone to help him. He didn't wait for us to help in and when someone said he'd never get in — he applied anyway." That was something she doubled down on in an interview on "The Real," tearing up as she told the hosts he'd been speaking about studying zoology at this particular college from the time he was just 8 years old. 

That Xen has always been so keen on studying zoology wasn't exactly a secret. After all, he started an eponymous YouTube channel way back in 2016, and though the channel also incorporated his love of superheroes, right from the start, he also created a number of "Zoologist Network" videos. Those included videos of the then-teenager sharing facts about felines, bald eagles  (featuring adorable off-camera commentary by his brother Ezekiel Martin), and more. 

In December 2024, Xen shared in a video for LA Speech & Language Therapy's Instagram that he was pursuing his PhD in zoology and planned to become a professor in the field one day. As for his connection to LA Speech & Language Therapy, he also shared that he'd started lessons there at just 17 months old. TBH, we can see why Tisha got so emotional speaking about his dedication to the subject on "The Real" — we're tearing up, too. 

As for Xen Martin's little brother, Ezekiel Martin, he and Tisha Campbell have a lot of fun together. Case in point: In July 2023, she took to Instagram to poke fun at one instance when she forced him to put her lessons in independence to good use. As she explained in the video's caption, Ezekiel had asked to feed the ducks at a park, only to attract a flock of hundreds. "Baby, you on your own. Mama can't help you," she narrated as the birds closed in. 

Earlier on in the video, there was a hint at another gag between the mom and son, when Ezekiel called for help using the name, "Gina." As "Martin" fans will remember, Campbell played the role of Gina in the show — and in an episode of the "Jennifer Hudson Show," she complained in mock rage that Ezekiel had taken to calling her by the moniker. Campbell also joked that she allowed it purely because she didn't have the energy to fight it. "'Gina ... make me something to eat,' 'Gina, what you doing?' 'Gina ...' and I just answer, 'cause I'm tired!" she joked. 

That's not to say they don't have their tender moments, though — and at times, Ezekiel has proved to be beyond his years. As Campbell revealed on "The Real," Ezekiel once told her, "Mom, you are my safe place ... What 10-year-old says that to somebody?" Clearly, one who loves his mama!

Despite Ezekiel Martin's playful ragging of his mom's "Martin" role, it bears mentioning that neither he nor his older brother know a whole lot about their mom's career. In fact, she shared in a 2024 Instagram video that she hadn't even shown them "Martin" herself, and that it was through friends that they'd seen it. She explained at the start of the video that she'd "just wanted them to consider me, 'Mommy.'" That was something she hinted at to Essence in 2025, too, noting that she'd put her career on hold for much of their childhoods because they were her top priority. Even so, she joked in the Instagram video that someone had brought up "House Party" around them, and that they had no idea what they were talking about. As such, she put it on for them to watch. Sadly for the star, she wasn't exactly met with applause. 

"They didn't give a s***," she laughed at the end of the video. However, let's just say this wasn't an instance of kids who can't stand a famous parent. Au contraire, she chuckled that their response was a direct result of her parenting. "Oh, my God, I trained them well," she joked. 

Of course, now that both of Tisha Campbell's kids are older, she's ready to get back out there. As she told Essence, she's ready to make her comeback — one of her projects being stand-up comedy. With that in mind, perhaps her kids will start paying more attention to her career. Having said that, with the amount of fun they seem to have together at home, there's no question that Xen and Ezekiel Martin get to see their mom's funny side whether she's on a stage or not.