Wayne Brady’s former wife, business partner, and best friend, Mandie Taketa, shared that the news of him becoming a father again came at a particularly challenging time.
In an interview with People Magazine on Thursday, July 25, Taketa, who shares a 21-year-old daughter named Maile with Brady, expressed her concerns about Brady’s mental health when he learned of his former girlfriend’s pregnancy.
“I was more concerned for Wayne’s mental health because that was not a good time,” she said, referring to the period when the comedian discovered he was going to be a father again at the age of 51. “It was a struggle to begin with.”
Taketa elaborated on the timing of the news, saying, “We had just come back from mom’s funeral together and then this news was dropped, and so my first concern was just weighing his health.”
Brady, now 52, found out about his ex-girlfriend’s pregnancy several weeks after returning from his grandmother Valerie’s funeral in the Virgin Islands. The baby boy, named Val Henry, was born shortly after.
In a recent episode of his new reality series, Wayne Brady: The Family Remix, Brady revealed he has become a father again to six-month-old Val.
The timing of the pregnancy news, coupled with the grief of losing his grandmother, added to the emotional challenges Brady faced. Taketa’s focus on his well-being highlights the strong bond they continue to share despite no longer being married. Her concern for his mental health during such a turbulent period underscores the importance of their supportive relationship.
Brady’s new reality series offers a glimpse into his life as he navigates fatherhood once again and balances his career and personal life. The addition of Val Henry to his family brings both joy and new responsibilities, as Brady embraces this unexpected chapter of his life with the support of those closest to him.