Wayne Brady opens up about new son and family dynamics

Wayne Brady, known for his improvisational skills on "Let’s Make a Deal," recently shared that he has a new son named Val Henry. 

This revelation came during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, as part of the debut episode of his Freeform reality series, Wayne Brady: The Family Remix.

Brady, 52, admitted his shock upon learning that his ex-girlfriend Tina was expecting his child. The news came after returning from his grandmother Valerie's funeral in the Virgin Islands. 

Brady expressed his initial confusion, saying, “I asked the silly question that I think many men since the beginning of time have asked. ‘How?’ You know how! So get past it.”

The arrival of Val, named after Brady’s late grandmother, has prompted a reflection on his role as a father. Brady is committed to ensuring Val feels as loved and valued as his 21-year-old daughter Maile Brady. 

“I never want Val to grow up thinking that he should be ashamed or look back and go, ‘Oh, my dad didn't want me,’” Brady stated.

Maile, who learned about her new brother with “mixed feelings,” has come to terms with the situation. She sees it as an opportunity for personal growth within the blended family dynamic. 

“This is kind of an opportunity for all of us to grow up and see how that dynamic works as individuals,” Maile remarked.

Brady’s ex-wife Mandie Taketa and her partner Jason Fordham have embraced the evolving family structure. Fordham, who is actively involved in Val’s life, emphasized his support for Brady. “I'm in it with Sundance, you know what I mean?” Fordham said, referring to his own son with Taketa.

Despite not living near Tina, Brady stays connected with Val through daily FaceTime calls and maintains a nurturing parenting style. “He will have boundaries, but he's never going to grow up feeling like he can't talk,” Brady noted.

The blended family's journey will be showcased on Wayne Brady: The Family Remix, airing Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Freeform and streaming the following day on Hulu. 

Maile hopes the show will dispel any misconceptions and highlight Val’s place within the Core Four family. “I’m glad that Tina and Val do have representation on the show,” she added.