Wayne Brady, the multi-talented entertainer known for his work on “Let’s Make a Deal,” opened up about his life nearly a year after coming out as pansexual. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Wayne Brady: The Family Remix Tastemaker Event held at The Hollywood Roosevelt, the 52-year-old shared that while his life has remained largely unchanged, the internal transformation has been profound.
“Coming out was a personal journey,” Brady said. “I didn’t expect any grand transformation. It’s not like a fairy tale where everything changes instantly. The change is internal, and it’s a wonderful feeling.”
Brady came out as pansexual in August 2023, and he is grateful for the sense of normalcy that followed. “It’s not the biggest event in my life, but it’s one of the sweetest. I don’t walk around every day noticing a difference. It’s just normal, and everyone should be allowed to have their own baseline of happiness,” he explained. “My happiness is being free to be myself and do what I want, when I want, with whomever I want.”
As he prepares for the premiere of his reality show “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix,” Brady shared his evolving definition of success. The show chronicles his blended family with ex-wife Mandie Taketa, their 21-year-old daughter Maile Brady, and their continued friendship despite their separation in 2008 after nine years of marriage.
“Success for me is having a show that features a multicultural, multi-generational family like ours,” Brady said. “I’ve been able to discuss issues that aren’t often talked about. To my knowledge, I’m the only person in my space to come out as pansexual in such a public way, and doing it with the people I love is the ultimate success.”
Brady hopes his family’s story resonates with viewers. “If our show can make other families feel validated or show them that they can co-parent successfully, that’s the greatest achievement. We get a lot of messages from people asking how they can have what we have, and it all comes down to supporting each other.”
He credits their strong bond to their unwavering support for one another. “Mandie has had my back since 1995, and we’ll always support each other,” he emphasized.
Looking ahead, Brady is excited about his future projects. In addition to hosting another season of “Let’s Make a Deal,” now in its 16th season, he is developing new ventures, including a scripted series and an improvisational musical game show with Taketa.
“I’m thrilled about the new season of ‘Let’s Make a Deal.’ I’m proud of the show and how we can make people happy and give back,” Brady said. “I’m a cheerleader at heart, and making people happy is what I love to do.”