Wayne Brady Opens Up About His Journey to Embrace His Pansexuality

by Pooja Chauhan · 24/07/2024

Bollywood Fever: Wayne Brady is opening up about his journey to embrace and reveal his pansexuality, a secret he kept from the public and those closest to him for years. The 52-year-old comic and TV personality recently sat down with his blended family for a new installment of “Spilling the E-Tea,” where he discussed his sexuality and their unique dynamic. The family includes his ex-wife and business partner Mandie Taketa, their daughter Maile, 21, and Mandie’s life partner Jason Michael Fordham, who shares a son, Sundance-Isamu, with Mandie.

Wayne Brady Opens Up About His Journey to Embrace His Pansexuality

In their new reality show, “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,” Mandie asked Wayne why it took so long for him to come out as pansexual.

Wayne explained, “The answer is easy — because I didn’t know! Like, I didn’t know what it was even called. It’s not like I had this secret that I was sitting on and at night I was pansexual Batman going out.”

Wayne further elaborated, “I didn’t know what it was called because I think that we’ve come so far with the lexicon with those terms, right? And understanding and acceptance. Because back in the day, it was very much, ‘Well are you gay and are you not?’ Knowing, well, maybe I find that person attractive, but that’s a man, but I also think this woman is attractive, but also learning that it’s not just as black and white as those two things.“

For Wayne, it took extensive therapy and self-reflection to understand and accept his pansexuality. He admitted he was “nervous to say it out loud” when he first came out to his ex-wife, who is his “closest friend.” His biggest fear was losing their friendship and support.

Wayne and Mandie married in 1999 and divorced seven years later but have remained close friends and business partners. Nearly a year ago, Wayne publicly came out as pansexual, defining it as being “able to love whomever I want no matter the vessel.”

“I’m saying it is very possible for me to be attracted to the man because of the person,” he explained, “and I can be attracted to this beautiful woman like you because of the person.”

Since sharing his truth, Wayne has felt a significant sense of freedom. “The best part is, now that I’ve said this out loud, I don’t have to worry,” he told ET. “I could show up at a red carpet. I could be at Denny’s for all you know, I’m not ducking anybody… because it is what it is, and I’m free to do that.”

Wayne Brady’s candid revelations about his pansexuality highlight the importance of self-acceptance and the impact of supportive relationships on personal growth and freedom.