NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

George Floyd death: Six-year-old daughter Gianna says she misses her dad who 'changed the world'

NZ Herald
3 Jun, 2020 08:37 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, listens to a a news conference with Stephen Jackson, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Minneapolis. Photo / AP

Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, listens to a a news conference with Stephen Jackson, Tuesday, June 2, 2020, in Minneapolis. Photo / AP

George Floyd's daughter Gianna and her mother have appeared on US television, with the six-year-old saying she misses her father because "he played with me".

Eight days ago Floyd, 46, was killed while being pinned to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer.

Mother Roxie Washington said she mourned that Gianna "Gigi" Floyd will now have to grow up without a dad.

EXCLUSIVE: “I miss him.” George Floyd’s 6-year-old daughter speaks out about her dad for first time. https://t.co/bBGr4T4Es4 pic.twitter.com/d4dkj5AMEy

— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 3, 2020

Washington said Gianna had been told her "daddy changed the world" but still does not know he was killed by police officers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The pair appeared on Good Morning America on Wednesday morning (US time) where Gianna said she misses playing with her father.

"I miss him... he played with me," Gianna said.

Washington said she has only seen some parts of the infamous video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds, and that she wishes she'd been there to help him.

"I couldn't believe somebody was doing him like that I wish somebody would have been there to help him," she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Washington also revealed Gianna does not know the full story behind her father's death.

"I told her her dad died because he couldn't breathe," she said.

Roxie Washington speaks and stands behind Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, at a news conference. Photo / AP
Roxie Washington speaks and stands behind Gianna Floyd, the daughter of George Floyd, at a news conference. Photo / AP

In another video on social media, Gianna is seen on her uncle's shoulders watching peaceful protests in Minneapolis and saying: "Daddy changed the world!"

View this post on Instagram

That’s right GiGi “Daddy changed the world” 😢😢😢😢😢 George Floyd the name of change. #justiceforgeorgefloyd #ivehadenough Love to all who have love for all ✊🏿✊🏻✊🏾✊🏼✊🏽✊

A post shared by Stephen Jackson Sr. (@_stak5_) on Jun 2, 2020 at 7:16pm PDT

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page set up to help Gianna financially has raised US$1 million.

Discover more

New Zealand

Why police didn't intervene in Auckland protest

03 Jun 06:12 AM
World

George Floyd death: Sacked policeman flees Minneapolis

03 Jun 06:43 AM
World

'Not happy with his actions': Fallout for grinning police officer

03 Jun 09:36 AM
World

George Floyd: Murder charge upgraded, three other police officers charged

03 Jun 05:57 PM

During a press conference in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Washington said she wants to see justice done for Floyd.

"I don't have a lot to say, because I can't get my words together right now," Washington said. "But I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took. At the end of the day, they get to go home and be with their families.

"Gianna does not have a father. He will never see her grow up, graduate; he will never walk her down the aisle."

Roxie Washington, mother of George Floyd's 6-year-old daughter Gianna speaks out:

“He’ll never see her grow up, graduate. He will never walk her down the aisle. If there’s a problem she’s had and needs her dad, she does not have that anymore.” pic.twitter.com/w11t64pKBR

— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 3, 2020

"If there's a problem she's having and she needs her dad, she does not have that anymore," Washington added. "I'm here for my baby, and I'm here for George because I want justice for him. I want justice for him 'cause he was good. No matter what anybody thinks, he was good."

A protester holding a banner depicting George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, marches past the Greek Parliament. Photo / AP
A protester holding a banner depicting George Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, marches past the Greek Parliament. Photo / AP

"And this is the proof that he was a good man," Washington said, gesturing to Gianna.

Washington recalled how excited Floyd was when his daughter was born, saying: "He was so happy to have her.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

READ MORE:
• George Floyd death: All four officers to be charged over killing
• George Floyd death: Sacked policeman flees Minneapolis for his safety
• George Floyd death: Timeline from arrest to asphyxiation
• George Floyd death: Police officers rammed by car in Buffalo, shot in St Louis, Las Vegas

"He slept the whole time I was in labour, but when he heard her cry, he woke up," she said.

"I still have a picture of him waking up and getting his baby. He loved her. He loved her so much."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

What to know about Thailand's political crisis

19 Jun 04:25 AM
World

Karen Read found not guilty of police officer boyfriend's murder

19 Jun 03:26 AM
World

Allegedly stolen SUV races through mall

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from World

What to know about Thailand's political crisis

What to know about Thailand's political crisis

19 Jun 04:25 AM

The uneasy alliance of parties forming the government is on the verge of collapse.

Karen Read found not guilty of police officer boyfriend's murder

Karen Read found not guilty of police officer boyfriend's murder

19 Jun 03:26 AM
Allegedly stolen SUV races through mall

Allegedly stolen SUV races through mall

Premium
Controversial Kiwi start-up, once worth $38m, folds in New York

Controversial Kiwi start-up, once worth $38m, folds in New York

19 Jun 02:37 AM
Help for those helping hardest-hit
sponsored

Help for those helping hardest-hit

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP