Ahead of his upcoming Freeform reality series, which debuts tomorrow, July 24, Wayne Brady, his ex-wife, Mandie Taketa, and her partner, are opening up about how they are making co-parenting work. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine, Brady says that he, his ex-wife, and her new partner have, “found a new family within each other.”
“It’s important to us to show what a family can look like when you choose each other,” Brady said in his exclusive interview with People.
The 52-year-old goes on to say that after his divorce from Taketa, in the early 2000s, the duo went to therapy to learn how to heal. He said from there, they went on to become best friends and partners in a production company.
“We got healthy together, and we found a new friendship, a new family and a new safety within each other,” Taketa says. “We’re soulmates.”
The 48-year-old actress and producer shares 21-year-old daughter Maile with Brady and two-year-old Sundance-Isamu, with her new partner, Jason Fordham. Fordham was one of Wayne’s backup dancers for his 2009 Las Vegas residency. The new couple met during that period of time.
Fordham tells the outlet that what has really been the key to their blended family relationship is “supporting” each other’s “strides and development whenever they pop up.” Fordham adds, “we are very open and honest with each other.”
And when they say “support” they mean “support”. The “Core Four,” as they call themselves, live eight minutes apart and regularly dine, travel and parent in the same moments together.
If you have yet to hear about Brady’s new Freeform reality series, let us give you a brief synopsis per a series press release.
“With Brady at a sudden crossroads in his life, “Untitled Wayne Brady & Family Project” (working title) offers an intimate look into his blended family’s personal life – revealing unexpected points of view and values that most people (including his own family) have a hard time understanding.”
Wayne Brady: The Family Remix premieres tomorrow, July 24 at 10 p.m. ET on Freeform, streaming the next day on Hulu.
Photo Credit: Mandie Taketa Instagram; Jason Fordham Instagram; Freeform Instagram
