'Let's Make a Deal' host Wayne Brady comes out as pansexual

Wayne Brady, known as the host of Let's Make A Deal, had a sincere conversation during an interview where he openly shared that he identifies as pansexual.

Aged 51, Brady engaged in an exclusive discussion with PEOPLE at his residence in Malibu. During the interview, he was accompanied by his 20-year-old daughter, Maile, and his ex-wife, Mandie Taketa, who is 47 years old.

The entire family, including Mandie Taketa's partner, Jason Fordham, is currently in the process of filming a reality TV series that focuses on their unique dynamics. The show is scheduled to be broadcast on Hulu in the upcoming year.

During the candid interview, Brady proudly opened up about his sexuality, revealing: "I am pansexual," meaning he is attracted to a person regardless of their gender identity - or as he put it: "Bisexual — with an open mind!"

Taketa was the first person that Brady came out to. "I just said, ‘Great.’ As I knew coming out would help him be happier," she explained.

Maile's response was similar, breaking into a big smile before stating "I just said, ‘Okay'".

Brady further elaborated: "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."

The 51-year-old also elaborated on the price of fame, as he noted that it can often seem like people believe that they know him because he's on the TV screens.

Stating that it's a "blessing" that he gets to "connect" with people in their own homes, he added that he is an "introvert" that is an "actor".

Like many across the world, the death of Robin Williams struck a chord with Brady and he began being more open about his mental health.

"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," he said."

He implied that he wasn't happy with himself and that he loved sharing joy with his friends and his family, but he felt that there was a "love deficit" when he came home.

"I did all the therapy I could do. I was treated for love addiction. It’s a part of my journey. I had to start examining why I was looking for myself and happiness in a slew of people," Brady stated.

The actor acknowledged that he had been attracted to men throughout his life, but he had never dated a man, but he had "pushed it aside" due to his upbringing and because he "[lives] in the modern world."

"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," Brady said.

Though he noted that he felt like a "sham" because he wasn't forthcoming with himself and that he felt like he was "playing" an ally because he wasn't being truthful about who he was.

Brady concluded by saying that he's "still putting [himself] together" but he is becoming the "Wayne Brady that everyone wants and expects".

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