Wayne Brady reveals how coming out as pansexual has had a major impact on his family life

Wayne Brady didn’t just drop a headline in 2023 when he came out as pansexual, he basically rewired the way he talks about his whole life, including what kind of parent he is at home.

In interviews with People, the Let’s Make a Deal host explained that opening up about being pansexual led him to do more than just label himself. He said it pushed him to “start learning about myself” and face stuff he had “repressed” or avoided, and that shift carried straight into his family routine with his two kids, daughter Maile Masako Brady and son Val Henry, whom he co-parents with Tina.

And if that wasn’t already a lot, it happened after another heavy chapter too, Robin Williams’ suicide, which Brady said “impacted” him and helped steer him toward mental health groups and a new kind of honesty.

That’s when his pansexual reveal in 2023 started sounding less like a statement and more like a family rulebook, especially for Maile Masako Brady.</p>

Main Story

Wayne Brady has explained why coming out as pansexual in 2023 has made him a 'better' parent to his two children.

"I am pansexual," he told People at the time. "Bisexual — with an open mind!"

Key Point 2

The comedian and actor also shared in August 2023 that Robin Williams' tragic passing by suicide 'impacted' him a lot and it made he come to the conclusion that he needed to understand himself better.

“After Robin’s death, I got involved in certain groups, like Glenn Close’s group, Bring Change to Mind, being very vocal about mental health,” he told People.

Then August 2023 hit, when Robin Williams’ tragic passing pushed Brady to join mental health efforts like Bring Change to Mind and rethink his inner life.</p>

Key Point 3

"Once I opened that door to myself though, I had to start learning about myself, and I had to start owning up to things that maybe I’d either repressed, surprised, or just didn’t wanna deal with."

Detailing his struggles further, the 53-year-old explained: "I gave joy at work. But the pity is then I come home, and I don’t have that joy.

This is similar to how Bunnie Xo described intimacy changes after Jelly Roll’s 275lb weight loss.

Once he “opened the door” to himself, he admitted the real struggle was bringing joy home, not just performing it at work.</p>

Key Point 4

"But that can’t be my only joy. I have to love myself.

In a more recent interview with People, Brady discussed how his life has changed for the better in recent years after coming out, and how it's made him a 'better' father to 22-year-old daughter Maile Masako Brady, with whom he shares with ex-wife, Mandie Taketa.

And in the middle of all that, he’s still juggling co-parenting with ex-wife Mandie Taketa and former partner Tina, so his “I feel lighter” moment lands at the dinner table too.</p>

Key Point 5

Brady revealed in 2024 that he is also the dad to son Val Henry, who he co-parents alongside former partner, Tina.

"I feel lighter, because I'm me," Brady explained. "That lets me be a better actor.

Key Point 6

The Let’s Make a Deal host has previously said that for him, being pansexual 'means being able to be attracted to anyone who identifies as gay, straight, bi, transsexual or non-binary. Being able to be attracted across the board'.

"And, I think, at least for me, for right now, that is the proper place. I took pan to mean that not only can I be attracted to any of these people or types physically, but I could be attracted to the person that is there," he added.

He didn’t just come out, he came home lighter, and his kids are living in the after.

Want another unsettling family-level fallout? See what happened after police bodycam exposed fraternity hazing inside their house.