Kris Fade embraces his most important Role: Being a Dad

Radio king, Netflix star and entrepreneur, Kris Fade has built a life with many roles. But the one he holds closest? “Dad.” In a candid conversation with Krita Coelho, the Dubai-based media powerhouse opens up about the quieter, grounding truths of fatherhood, legacy, and love

Krita Coelho, Editor

The energy in Kris Fade’s life is loud — morning radio, business deals, celebrity encounters, red carpets, reality television. But in the middle of the noise, there’s a quiet role that defines him more than any microphone or camera ever could: being a dad.

“Being a father is the most important job I have,” Fade says, without hesitation. “I know that sounds cliché, but it truly is. I could be on stage with Will Smith or hanging out with Travis Scott, but the moment I step through my front door, none of that matters. At home, I’m just dad, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

For the Dubai-based Australian-Lebanese presenter and Dubai Bling star, life has unfolded in public, from his chart-topping Virgin Radio show to his reality TV wedding. But his approach to fatherhood remains refreshingly grounded and deeply intentional. Fade, who shares two daughters with his ex-wife and has a young son, Kruz, with wife Brianna, reflects on the evolution of being a father through very different chapters of his life.

“With my daughters, I was younger. I didn’t have the kind of job security or stability I do now, so it was a different experience, still beautiful, but one that taught me resilience,” he explains. “Now, with my son, I’m in a better place mentally and physically. It’s pure joy. And Brianna is an amazing mother, so the whole experience feels incredibly supported.”

Despite the whirlwind of his public life, Fade fiercely protects the intimacy of his role at home. “I just want my kids to remember that I was always there for them,” he says. “No matter how busy life got, I was a call away. I used to put them to bed every night, and now I’m reliving that with my son. We’ve always had little rituals, traveling together, staying in a small house in LA, doing the everyday stuff. That’s what I hope they’ll remember most.”

Being part of Dubai Bling, and by extension, opening a window into his home life, required a careful balance. Fade approached it with one rule: be authentic. “We’re pretty real. I told the family, ‘Just be us. Don’t act it up.’ And when it comes to privacy, especially with my daughters growing up, we always talk about what they’re comfortable with. Everyone has the right to share as much, or as little, as they want.”

With a schedule that spans time zones and industries, you might wonder how he finds the hours for “dad time.” The secret? Ruthless planning. “Every hour of my day is scheduled. That’s what lets me get so much done, and that includes family time,” he says. “Sure, some days are crazy with work. But I’ll make sure we have lunch together the next day, or go to the mall to shop for summer clothes. I always make up the time.”

His parenting style? A blend of cool and consistent. “I like to think I’m a cool dad,” he laughs. “I want them to feel safe with me. I don’t want them to fear me, but they know when Dad means business. We have a really beautiful relationship. They know they can tell me anything.”

Fade credits his own parents, particularly his mother, for shaping his approach. “My mum always showed us love, and not everyone gets that growing up. I want my kids to know that our home is full of love and acceptance.”

In an age where dads are expected to be everything — gentle, tough, funny, wise, emotionally available — Fade doesn’t feel pressure to fit a mould. “I don’t think about being a ‘modern dad.’ I just try to do what feels right. And I know I won’t always get it right, but that’s okay. You just do your best.”

Beyond everyday parenting, Fade is thinking about the future. He’s built Fade Fit, one of the region’s fastest-growing snack companies, with his kids in mind. “I want to leave them something. I want them to look back and say, ‘Dad built this from scratch.’ And if they decide to carry the Fade Fit flag forward, great. If not, that’s okay too.”

For Kris Fade, fatherhood is less about being perfect and more about being present. It’s about creating space — for conversations, connection, love, and legacy. “It’s all about showing up,” he says. “And remembering that not every decision has to be perfect, as long as it’s made with love.”