In a powerful new interview with People, Wayne Brady publicly came out as pansexual and detailed his journey to being "the best Wayne Brady" he can possibly be.
"I am pansexual," the Let's Make a Deal host told the publication, describing his sexuality as:
“Bisexual — with an open mind!”
After much reflecting and researching, the TV personality recognized that pansexuality best described his attraction to others "across the board."
"In doing my research, both with myself and just with the world, I couldn't say if I was bisexual, because I had to really see what that was, especially because I really have not gotten a chance to act on anything."
"So, 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."
"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."
The actor, comedian and singer revealed that Robin Williams' death in 2014 set him on a path to re-discovery and led him to focus on his mental health.
"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."
"And not just the buzzword of mental health, but really what do I have to do to function in this big world and still be okay with yourself and more importantly, to love yourself so that you don't hurt yourself?"
" Not even just physically hurting yourself, but not taking care of yourself because you are depressed and frightened and weighed down."
Eventually, he came to a realization.
"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."
"I've done a lot of work on a lot of other things until now, one of the last things on that checklist was, what's one of the last things that you need to be really happy and to be truly, authentically yourself?"
Brady acknowledged:
"I have to love myself."
He also revealed that he'd been attracted to men at different times throughout his life but "always pushed that aside," due to his upbringing as well as the emasculation historically associated with being gay.
"Let's be really honest: 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 sh*t."
"What's the fastest way to hurt another man? I'm gonna call you out of your name. I'm gonna call you gay. I'm gonna emasculate you."
"I'm gonna use the F-word. I learned that very early from the people around me, they're like, 'Oh, so those are bad things? Yeah. You, you don't wanna be that.'"
Brady also elaborated on his journey navigating shame.
"A shame cake, just eating it every single day — and then worried about... people finding out."
"I've always had a wonderful community of friends who are in the LGBTQ+ community, people that I've grown up with in shows, gays and lesbians, and, later in life, my trans relatives and my niece. I've always had that community, but I've always felt like a sham because I wasn't being forthcoming with myself."
"I could speak out about Black issues because I can’t hide that. And you can play at being an ally, but until the day that you can truly say, 'This is who I am, and I wanna stand next to you,' that's not... I always wanted that day to come."
And while he knew nobody had to "know [his] personal business," Brady felt like he was lying by hiding.
"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. What does that feel like to actually not be shameful, to not feel like, 'Oh, I can't be part of this conversation because I'm lying?'"
" I had to break that behavior."
People on social media celebrated the actor and applauded him for coming out and telling the world who he really is.
The entertainer said his focus now is "being the best Wayne Brady I can be."
"I don’t know about most, actually. I’m still coming together. But If I'm healthy, then I can go onstage at Let's Make A Deal and be the best Wayne Brady that everybody wants and expects."
"I can be the best dad that Maile needs. I can be the best friend to [ex-wife] Mandie, the best son to my mother, and one day, the best partner to someone, because I'm doing this for me."
Emphasis on the "one day."
"Not dating yet though!"
"I am single, but it's not about being with someone right now. I've got some work to do still."
"Then, Wayne as a single, open-minded pansexual can make a decision and be free and open to other people."
Yesterday, Brady made his coming out social media official, posting a video on TikTok with the caption:
"As someone who gets to bring joy to others daily on tv, it's been ironic that I don't experience it as much as I'd like. I advocate mental health for all and a part of that is self transparency."
"In doing my work, I've come to see a few truths, one of them being that I want to be free to love whomever I want. This truth makes me Pan and part of the lgbtq+ family."
"It's scary as hell to say out loud but here it is. The people I admire the most are the ones brave enough to be themselves unapologetically. This shouldn't shake anyone's world, but if it bothers you at all, that's your business:)."
"I was so afraid of having my manhood questioned, but screw that. A "real man" in my eyes, isn't afraid to be honest and happy. From now on, I'll be over here living my best life! I love you @Mandietaketa @Maile Masako @Jason"
@waynebrady As someone who gets to bring joy to others daily on tv, it's been ironic that I don't experience it as much as I'd like. I advocate mental health for all and a part of that is self transparency. In doing my work, I've come to see a few truths, one of them being that I want to be free to love whomever I want. This truth makes me Pan and part of the lgbtq+ family. It's scary as hell to say out loud but here it is. The people I admire the most are the ones brave enough to be themselves unapologetically. This shouldn't shake anyone's world, but if it bothers you at all, that's your business:) I was so afraid of having my manhood questioned, but screw that. A "real man" in my eyes, isn't afraid to be honest and happy. From now on, I'll be over here living my best life! I love you @Mandietaketa @Maile Masako @Jason
Congratulations, Wayne!
