Wayne Brady and his family survived divorce and pivoted into their unconventional reality. Now the comedian is showing the world how his family makes it work on his new reality show, “Wayne Brady: The Family Remix.”
“Something that I’ve started saying recently is ‘love who loves you,” Brady told the Daily News in a recent sit-down with the whole family. “And I’m looking at the three people in my life that love me and have my back.”
The family he’s referring to is his ex-wife, Mandie Taketa; her new partner, Jason Fordham; and Brady’s daughter, 21-year-old daughter Maile Brady.
Brady and Taketa, who married in 1999 and decided to divorce 5 years later, admit their co-parenting journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing.
“I had to realize I was a big part of the problem,” Taketa shared with The News. “I was able to look at myself and go, ‘Hey, I realize I’m codependent. You know, I’m not completely healthy.’”
Brady also owns his his part in their issues at the time. “It’s everybody being willing to set something aside that’s more important than your own ego,” he shared. “And each of us did that. Our relationship was more important than who’s right. Jason being a part of it.”
The Emmy winner is referencing Taketa’s partner, who met her while working as one of Brady’s backup dancers during his 2009 Las Vegas residency. In 2021, the couple welcomed a baby boy, Sundance.
“Jason being a good man to my daughter and to my best friend was more important than my ego of, ‘Oh, this guy that used to work for you now is dating your ex wife,” Brady explained.
He added, “Having a loving guy who was good to my little girl was more important than that. So we each had to set this thing aside. Jason and I entered into this, saying: ‘I accept this.’”
Fordham echoes a similar sentiment, noting that unconventional family dynamics are becoming more common than not. “By some miracle, we’re able to pull together, but I do think it reflects a lot of people’s realities, as far as co-parenting, ex partners and you know, children in the mix,” he said.
As a child, Brady’s daughter could feel the positive changes in the family as her parents evolved. “Now, as an adult, I see how my parents were able to navigate that really well between themselves and I saw the change over time.” Maile tells the News.
While Brady initially had reservations about cameras following him in his home, the 52-year-old now hopes the show will encourage other families navigating divorce and unusual family dynamics to “live authentically.”
“I don’t want it to affect my business and my bottom line, because that affects my family. But I also want to live authentically and breathe.”
“Wayne Brady: The Family Remix” premieres on July 24 on Freeform.