After publicly embracing his pansexuality, Wayne Brady revealed that his family was more accepting of his sexuality than online trolls.
“I think it’s hardest for a lot of people online or in life in general because everybody has a belief system,” the 52-year-old actor explained in an exclusive interview. “We’re showing representation on this show [Wayne Brady: The Family Remix].” Brady emphasized the importance of representation in media, allowing individuals to see themselves and feel less alone in their identities.
When Brady came out in August 2023, his mom initially struggled to understand, but ultimately accepted his sexuality. (Brady refers to his grandmother Valerie Petersen as his mom, as she raised him as a child.)
The actor explained that people online who are “so locked” into their belief systems gave him more flack than members of his own family.
“If somebody says, ‘Oh, I identify as queer,’ their belief system is challenged so greatly that they can’t ease up on it, because if they do that, it challenges who they are as a person,” he said. “So my bigger issue was with them, not necessarily with anybody in my life.”
Brady credits his loved ones for making him feel safe enough to be vocal about his sexuality.
“In any circumstance, you can only do something once you feel backed up and safe,” he said. “So this has just been part of my mental health journey. … I look at that as just growth. Anything that is a secret that you can then share, it’s because you’ve been doing some work.”
In addition to having a strong support system, Brady credits therapy and honest conversations for his decision to come out. While the world knows Brady a little better now, he admitted his life hasn’t drastically changed.
“The biggest change has been within me,” he said. “No one threw me a parade, which they shouldn’t. Life is good.”
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Brady’s ex-wife Mandie Taketa, who also stars on Wayne Brady: The Family Remix, teased that if he wanted a parade, she would gladly “throw one” for him.
Taketa and Brady were married from 1999 to 2008. The exes share 21-year-old daughter Maile, who also appears in the reality series. The show follows their family dynamic as they navigate what life throws at them.
Wayne Brady: The Family Remix premieres on Freeform Wednesday, July 24, at 10 p.m. ET and is available to stream the next day on Hulu.
