Wayne Brady reveals he is pansexual: ‘Attracted across the board’
Wayne Brady came out as pansexual on Monday, explaining that he’s struggled to define his sexuality and manage his “love addiction.”
“I am pansexual,” he boldly told People, clarifying that he is attracted to people regardless of their sex or gender. “Bisexual — with an open mind!”
The “Let’s Make a Deal” host, 51, is on a “path to self-discovery” as he films a reality show about his blended family that’s set to premiere on Hulu next year.
While trying to come to terms with his sexuality, Brady felt like he didn’t fully identify as bisexual.
“I came to pansexual because — and I know that I’m completely messing up the dictionary meaning — but to me, pan 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,” Brady said.
Robin Williams’ 2014 suicide “really impacted” Brady, setting him on a journey of self-reflection and inspiring him to become “very vocal about mental health.”
“There’s a lot of therapy that I’m doing right now. I wish I didn’t care what people think of me, but the fact of the matter is, I do care,” he admitted.
“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, suppressed, or just didn’t wanna deal with.”
The Post reached out to Brady’s reps for comment.
The Season 31 “Dancing with the Stars” contestant was married to his first wife, Diana Lasso, from 1993 to 1995. He married second wife Mandie Taketa in 1999, later divorcing her in 2007.
Throughout the years, he has blamed his failed relationships on being too young and too focused on work, but he has otherwise kept much of his love life private until now.
“People think they really know me. That has its advantages and disadvantages,” he reasoned.
“I’ve told myself in the past, also, nobody needs to know my personal business. The world can absolutely go without knowing that Wayne identifies as pan. But that gave me license to still live in the shadows and to be secretive.”
Currently single, Brady said he has never dated a man, but is finally being honest with himself and the public about his interests.
“I’ve also been attracted to certain men in my life, but I’ve always pushed that aside because of how I was raised, and because I live in today’s world, and it’s scary as s–t,” he revealed.
Taketa, 47, was the first person he came out to. “I just said, ‘Great.’ As I knew coming out would help him be happier,” she told People.
Their 20-year-old daughter Maile’s reaction wasn’t much different. “I just said, ‘Okay,’” she recalled.
Brady, Maile, and Taketa — along with Taketa’s partner of 12 years, Jason Fordham, and their toddler Sundance-Isamu — are filming an eight-episode reality series for Hulu.
