If living in your truth is a form of power, Wayne Brady is tapping its fullest potential. The actor, comedian, host and stage star (he recently finished a run in The Wiz on Broadway) has been unveiling his real life, with no apologies, on the new reality series Wayne Brady, The Family Remix, from his love life to fatherhood.
“It’s scary, and there could be fallout,” Brady told EBONY at the Television Critics Conference held in Pasadena, California, this past July about doing a reality series that invites outsiders into his world. But fear didn’t stop him. “No one had a gun to me to do it. This was something, and while it was hard on one end, it was the most liberating feeling ever. And I just happened to be able to do it with the most important people in my life.”
That includes his best friend, soulmate and business partner, Mandie Taketa, who happens to be his ex-wife. Together they run their production company, A Wayne & Mandie Creative (“Wayne Brady’s Comedy IQ”). They also co-parent their 21-year-old daughter, student and aspiring artist Maile Brady. Rounding out this remix is Jason Michael Fordham, Mandie’s life partner since 2009.
Brady’s candidness on screen is refreshing as he reveals his devotion as a father and opens up about his pansexual love life. “I’m very blessed because I think it was easier for me than maybe some other people who have more to fight and don’t have the resources I have.”
What might be even more surprising for those who are watching Brady unfold his life on-screen is his second time around at fatherhood. He and a former partner recently welcomed their son, Val Henry, into the world.
Here, the cast shares their thoughts on their “modern family” remix.
Mandie Taketa
On her and Wayne’s loving friendship:
“We were besties before we were dating. We didn’t work in marriage, but I feel like he graduated in some ways in life. I’m just able to love him in a more supportive way, not being married to him. He’s my best friend. He’s my family. We’re cut from the same cloth.
On Wayne’s search for love:
“I was just happy that he was taking a step to loving and accepting himself. All I want for Wayne is for him to be happy and healthy. I love him, no matter what. It’s always been that way.”
Maile Brady
On living with Dad:
“I think my dad has eased up on when I can come home and all that; it’s kind of up to me. We have a nice living dynamic. We get coffee in the morning, and we go about our day; sometimes, we have dinner together. I think we’re, what’s the word? Harmonious. I think we live together quite harmoniously now.”
Jason Michael Fordham
On building a bridge between himself and Wayne:
“Wayne was never mean or unkind, but our bond was built over time, bonding hours happening at family dinners and family vacations. Whatever was going on in Wayne’s head and however he felt about it, he may have expressed that to Mandie, and I would say she may have buffered some of that. It happened in increments of time. Wayne was always very inclusive because he loved Mandie and Maile. I could see that was the priority. What that means in practical terms is that sometimes I needed to show up, but sometimes, Maile just needed mom and dad time. Fast forward 15 years, and we’ve built a friend and loving relationship by supporting each other. But he still doesn’t invite me over to play video games.”
Wayne Brady
On opening up about his search for love:
“Nothing’s changed. I feel that folks expect: ‘Well, because you changed and you went through your life, now do you wear high-heeled boots and a top hat and a bustier?’ No, I’m the same dude I was the day before I made this announcement. It’s just a different piece of information and lets me navigate. In a way, it’s as big a deal as it can be, but to me personally, it’s not a big deal, and it’s not the center of our conversation. This is about a family that looks like us and how we have each other’s backs.
On parenting again:
“When you have parents that have a child later in life, and they say something like, ‘Oh, now I can do it right.’ Well, that’s pretty crappy. That’s saying that you didn’t do right the first time. I feel that as a dad, I did it right the first time. I made so many mistakes, bumped my head and fell down. But look at this wonderful woman. So with Val, it’s not that I wanna do it right. When Miley was a little girl, life was crazy because I was like: I gotta do this show, I gotta move, I can’t stand still. What I think I can do differently now is to be more present.
On living your truth without labels:
“We, we weren’t even thinking of [our family]as non-traditional because that means that you’re being too self-aware about it. It’s just family. But it’s found family. Why are we still in each other’s lives? Because we want it to be. Maile is the thing that Mandie and I have in common biologically. But I love Mandie outside of Maile. There are relationships here that are strong enough to exist, not because we have to but because we want to. And we don’t see enough of that.”
Catch new episodes of Wayne Brady: The Family Remix on Wednesdays on Freeform.
