Celebrity Celebrity Family Celebrity Parenting Wayne Brady's Ex-Wife Was 'Concerned' About His Mental Health After He Welcomed Surprise Baby (Exclusive) The 'Let's Make a Deal' host is also dad to daughter Maile, 21, whom he shares with ex-wife and best friend Mandie Taketa By Hannah Sacks Hannah Sacks Hannah Sacks is a writer/reporter for the Parents team at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since May 2023. Her work has previously appeared in The Toy Insider, The Toy Book, The Pop Insider, and Saratoga Living. People Editorial Guidelines and JP Mangalindan JP Mangalindan JP Mangalindan is a Senior Writer for TV at PEOPLE. He joined PEOPLE in May 2023. JP's work has previously appeared in publications like Fortune, Business Insider, TechCrunch, GQ, Teen People and Entertainment Weekly. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 25, 2024 06:30PM EDT Wayne Brady's ex-wife had one thing in mind when she learned that he was going to be a father again. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Brady shared about the time he told his ex-wife and best friend Mandie Taketa, 48, that he was expecting a baby with his ex-girlfriend Tina. Brady is already dad to daughter Maile, 21, whom he shares with Taketa. "I was more concerned for Wayne's mental health because that was not a good time. It was a struggle to begin with," Taketa tells PEOPLE of learning that Brady was going to be a dad again. "And so it was that on top of everything. I mean, we had just come back from mom's funeral together and then this news was dropped, and so that's my first concern was just weighing his health." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Maile Brady and Wayne Brady attend the opening night performance of "Freestyle Love Supreme" on July 14, 2022 in Pasadena, California. David Livingston/Getty Wayne Brady Reveals He Has a Son: 'How Loved He Is!' (Exclusive) Brady received the news that his ex-girlfriend was pregnant several weeks after the family had returned from Brady's grandmother Valerie's funeral in the Virgin Islands. When the baby boy was born, he was named Val Henry. "I know this little one is going to be loved and is a blessing and a miracle," Taketa says. For more on Wayne Brady, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribe here. "Oh, he's in the village now," Brady adds. "Yeah. I mean I'm just like, 'The more, the merrier. This family is going to grow. I'm telling you.' I'm a Pisces and I just know. But yeah, I was concerned," Taketa explains. Wayne Brady and Maile Masako Brady attend the 2023 Foundation For New American Musicals Benefit on October 15, 2023. Gregg DeGuire/Getty When Brady first learned that he was expecting another baby, the actor, who discusses the revelation in the series premiere of his new Freeform reality show Wayne Brady: The Family Remix, says he was surprised. “I was shocked,” he tells PEOPLE. "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." Wayne Brady. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic But the star shared that he's adamant his son grows up knowing that he's loved by everyone in his life. “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,’ or he was ashamed of me. Because I want him, in his own way, to know that I love him as much as I love Maile, who is of me and that I had a part in creating,” he continues. “So I had to do that work.” Wayne Brady: The Family Remix airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET on Freeform and the next day on Hulu.