Wayne Brady Shares Why He Waited This Long To Come Out About His Sexuality To His Ex-Wife

Why did Wayne Brady decide to keep his sexuality a secret?

On ET’s show “Spilling the Tea,” comedian Wayne explained why it took him so long to come out to his ex-wife Mandie: “The truth is simple—I was unaware! I didn’t know what it was called, you see.” Mandie and Wayne tied the knot in 1999, but they divorced 17 years ago. Despite the divorce, they maintained a close friendship and even co-owned a business together.

Wayne additionally stated, “I didn’t have a hidden identity as a pansexual Batman at night, unaware of the term because we’ve advanced so far in understanding and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations. It was simpler back then, with the focus mainly on ‘are you or aren’t you gay?'”

Wayne’s struggles to find his sexuality

He went on to share his experience that recognizing sexuality as more complex than just being attracted to males or females has been a difficult and persistent process. It’s not as simple as black and white. He discussed his lengthy journey of self-exploration, therapy, and overcoming self-loathing brought about by societal expectations deeply ingrained through generations.

Wayne Brady confessed that he had been riding the “train of shame,” uncertain of how to disembark. He was torn between revealing his secret and fearing judgment for being perceived as insane or unusual. This is why his announcement came much later in life.

When Mandie inquired if Wayne had felt apprehensive about sharing his sexual identity with her, the entertainer admitted that he did. He conveyed his anxiety over the possibility of being rejected by his family and adding to his embarrassment by disclosing this information. However, Mandie was the initial person to be made aware of Brady’s sexual orientation.

Wayne Brady identifies himself as pansexual

During an interview with PEOPLE in 2023, Wayne Brady discussed his attraction to people of all genders and shared, “Through my self-exploration and research, I haven’t been able to label myself as bisexual yet because I haven’t had the opportunity to act on my feelings in that regard.”

In his own words, he explained, “Pansexuality is how I identify because, although I know this might complicate the standard definition, ‘pan’ represents my ability to be attracted to individuals regardless of their sexual orientation, be it gay, straight, bi, transgender, or non-binary. This freedom allows me to connect on a deeper level with people based on who they are as individuals, rather than just their gender or physical appearance.” Finding comfort in this label, he embraced the possibility of attraction towards diverse identities.