Basic Provisions
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Karamo Brown recently opened up about the toxic atmosphere on the show's set. Queer Eye had a constant and negative influence on him.
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Brown previously skipped the Season 10 press conference because he was "worried about being intimidated.".
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Bobby Berk left the show in 2023 and later addressed rumors of tension with another cast member.
Reboot of the show Queer Eye The 2018 Netflix debut elicited nothing but positive reactions, but behind the scenes, things weren't quite so rosy. In recent years, there have been reports of a brewing conflict within the "Fab Five.".
Ahead of the show's 10th and final season's premiere in January 2026, the cast—Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, and Jeremiah Brent—were scheduled to attend several press events to talk about the series, but Brown was notably absent.
His absence has sparked speculation about the Fab Five's behind-the-scenes relationships and reminded fans of past conflicts between the band members, from Bobby Berke's departure in 2023 to allegations of violence against Van Ness.
Below we examine the scandals surrounding the show. Queer Eye , that have brought us to this point.
Why Karamo Brown missed the show's press tour Queer Eye ?
Karamo Brown on Season 10 of "Queer Eye." Photo: David Needleman/Netflix
«The Fab Five were planning a press tour ahead of the 10th and final season. «Queer Eye» , but Brown did not take part in it. On January 20, he missed an interview on CBS Mornings и Today , explaining the need to protect his mental health "from people or the world that seek to destroy it," according to a statement provided CBS Mornings . Host Gayle King also reported that Brown's aide said he was "worried about being bullied.".
Representatives of Brown and show Queer Eye did not respond to the request Entertainment Weekly about comments.
During an interview on the channel CBS Mornings Porowski admitted that Brown's decision to skip the show came as a surprise. "Our family from Queer Eye "It's been around for almost a decade now… and families are complicated, and we're certainly no exception," the food and wine expert said. "But I think two things can exist simultaneously, and while that's certainly true, we're also here to showcase these incredible heroes we have and to truly honor the legacy of the past decade of our lives and all these wonderful heroes we've been fortunate enough to meet and interact with.".
Van Ness echoed Brown's sentiments, saying, "He taught people to focus on what they need, and I'm really proud of him. Focus on what you need, do what you need to do to take care of yourself—I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel that way sometimes.".
Brown later took part in the program Today in a short video interview, stating, "As with the themes of this season, I'm demonstrating what I believe is most important and want to remind you all: love yourself and protect yourself. That's why I'm here at home, not there.".
He also thanked the crew, fans, and Netflix executives, but notably didn't mention his fellow cast members.
Co-host Sheinelle Jones said Brown's assistant confirmed that he "felt like he was a victim of mental and emotional abuse for years" and that his therapist advised him to decline the interview "to protect himself and his peace of mind.".
Porowski spoke out on the matter, saying that he and the rest of the Fab Five "are deeply saddened that he's no longer with us. We, as a group, fully support his commitment to taking care of himself," he said. "And, echoing his words, we're here to honor a decade that's terrifying to even think about. And all the heroes we helped.".
What did Karamo say about his time with the Fab Five?
"Queer Eye" cast members. Photo: Jenny Anderson/Netflix
In June 2026, Brown gave an interview to PEOPLE, in which he discussed his absence from the show's press tour and his impressions of interacting with the Fab Five.
He confirmed that the toxic atmosphere within the cast led to his decision, explaining that he and his co-stars "have always bonded over the fans, but through working on myself, I've been asking myself, 'If I'm going to stay silent now and pretend to be sick or something, whose peace am I protecting?'"«
Brown also mentioned a specific incident in which his mother overheard his co-stars—Van Ness, France, and Porowski, according to multiple sources—making negative comments about him during filming in 2025. "I know I saw tears in my mother's eyes," he said. "[She kept saying], 'I thought they were your friends.' It made me realize I couldn't stay silent any longer about how often I was made to feel like an outcast.".
He also spoke of a broader toxic culture within the production team, saying that when instances of inappropriate behavior arose, "everyone would just say, 'Well, that's just the way he is,' rather than saying, 'That kind of behavior is unacceptable in a professional environment.' It constantly had a negative impact on me.".
Brown also noted that his behind-the-scenes experience was one of the factors that prompted him to break his sobriety. «I had a hard time confronting my demons and what I was going through on show Queer Eye »"," he said. "It was like, 'I'm stressed at work, let's meet at the bar for a drink.' Drinking led to marijuana, cocaine, pills. I couldn't cope, but I pretended I could. I was so broken.".
Why did Bobby Berk leave? show Queer Eye ?
Bobby Burke in Season 6 of Queer Eye. Photo: Ilana Panich-Linsman/Netflix
Burke's departure from show Queer Eye caught many fans by surprise. In 2023, he announced that Season 8 would be his last, fueling rumors that the interior design expert's departure was related to an alleged falling out with France.
In January 2024, Burke said Vanity Fair about his departure, making it clear that the decision to leave was "not an easy one." While he denied some speculation, he confirmed that there had been some tension between him and France.
«"Tan and I had a moment," he explained. "It was a situation, and it was between us, and it had nothing to do with the show. It was something personal that was brewing—nothing romantic, just to clarify.".
Burke also admitted to unfollowing France on Instagram, admitting it was a spontaneous decision. "Should I have unfollowed Tan? No. Maybe I should have just blocked him. But I was angry that day, and that was it. We became like brother and sister—and brothers and sisters will always fight.".
He continued, "He, Rob, and the kids will always hold a special place in my heart. I can see Tan and I having a lot of fun together in six months to a year.".
Karamo Brown, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Bobby Berk, and Antoni Porowski in Season 8 of "Queer Eye." Photo: Ilana Panic-Linsman/Netflix
Burke eventually explained that his decision to leave show "Queer Eye"« was not so much about conflicts between the participants, but rather about deadlines and contracts. According to an interview Vanity Fair , The Fab Five's original seven-season contract was set to expire in September 2022, and the group believed this would mark the end of the series. However, Netflix ultimately offered a new multi-season deal.
By that time, Burke was already busy with other projects and decided not to renew his contract for the following seasons. Queer Eye . He claimed that other participants also considered leaving, but ultimately decided to continue their participation.
Netflix did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment.
«"There were definitely emotions. But we each had our own reasons for why we did what we did," Burke added. "I can't be angry—although I was for a second. All the plans I made when I thought we weren't coming back, I just didn't want to change. I would have had to put a lot of other projects already in the works on hold. We were mentally prepared to move on—that's why I left.".
Jeremiah Brent replaced Burke for the show's final two seasons. Queer Eye .
What were the abuse allegations made against Jonathan Van Ness?
Jonathan Van Ness and Nick McCall on Season 10 of "Queer Eye." Photo: Keith Karzen/Netflix
In March 2024 Rolling Stone magazine published an exposé containing accusations from several people involved with the show's production that Van Ness, who uses "he/she/they" pronouns, was emotionally "cruel" and suffered from "anger issues." Some described Van Ness as difficult to work with, even calling him a "monster" and a "nightmare" on set.
One source explained, "When they're angry, there's a real sense of fear in them. It's almost like a cartoon, where the fear just pours out of them. It's very intense and scary." Another person claimed Van Ness would lash out at someone every day, singling them out to "make them the culprit and the villain of the day.".
In June 2024, Van Ness spoke out on the Jesse and Lenny Weir podcast «Table Manners» , saying the allegations "weren't actually true." He added: "I think a lot of people were looking for a reason to hate me or were like, 'See, I always knew they were fake bastards.'".
Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, Jonathan Van Ness, and Karamo Brown in Season 10 of "Queer Eye." Photo: Keith Karzen/Netflix
Van Ness admitted that while they found the article "overwhelmingly false and written in bad faith," it still struck a chord and made them think.
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«"Of course, there have been moments throughout my career where I've been stressed, or maybe immersed in highlight reels, and thought, 'No, I can't talk about this right now,'" Van Ness explained. "I know there were times when I could have done better. But I think being a victim of abuse and speaking out about everything I've spoken about, I felt it very strongly inside of me. I thought, 'Oh my God, is this really true? Am I really that bad of a person?'"„
Van Ness said they ultimately used the work as an opportunity to "slow down, step back, and really love ourselves.".
Where can I watch it? Queer Eye ?
The show Queer Eye Available to watch on Netflix.
Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.