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

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!"

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.

"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."

Brady came out as pansexual in 2023 (Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty Images)

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. I have joy because I love my daughter and I love my family. I love being a dad more than chocolate ice cream.

"But that can’t be my only joy. I have to love myself. And that’s when I realized that I had a problem because if I can spend everything on stage and on camera but then I come home and there is a love deficit, what is going on?"

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.

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

Wayne Brady with daughter Maile Brady in 2014 (Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic)

"I feel lighter, because I'm me," Brady explained. "That lets me be a better actor. Lets me be a better performer onstage. Lets me be a better dad. Lets me be a better partner to someone someday. I'm happier, I'm brighter."

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.