NEED TO KNOW
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Karamo Brown explained why he did not participate in the press conference. Queer Eye six months ago: due to a long-standing toxic atmosphere within the show.
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Brown says he relapsed in the third season after 12 years of sobriety. Today, he says he's been sober for over a year.
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He recently launched the health app Kē, plans to release a self-improvement book, and hopes to reconcile with his former co-stars in the future.
In early May, Karamo Brown, living in his Hollywood Hills home, reflects the sunny mood outside his window. With loud music playing, the former contestant «Queer Eye »" dancing in his kitchen, surrounded by those who know him best: his mother Charmaine, son Jason, and longtime best friend Tre.
Settling into a living room chair for his first interview since the public scandal that erupted during the premiere of the show's tenth and final season six months ago, Brown emphasizes that his obvious joy hasn't come easy.
«"My life has taken a complete 180-degree turn," he says in the cover story of PEOPLE magazine, which goes on sale Friday. "This new chapter feels secure and triumphant because I've dedicated the last year and a half to truly working on myself.".
Throughout 10 seasons of the upbeat Netflix reality show, 45-year-old Brown exuded positivity, helping "heroes"—ordinary people chosen for emotional, life-changing transformations—as a culture and lifestyle expert. But off the set, he says, "I was depressed." "I felt ashamed because I was teaching people they could be better, but in my own life, I was trapped.".
Karamo Brown was shot to death in his home in Los Angeles, California, on May 4, 2026. Photo by Filicia J.L. Mann.
In January, while his other co-stars—Antoni Porowski, 42, Jonathan Van Ness, 39, Tan France, 43, and Jeremiah Brent, 41—were out promoting the series together, Brown shocked fans by refusing all press conferences.
«I hope everyone remembers the main theme I’ve been trying to convey to them over the last decade: to focus on maintaining your mental health and peace of mind and protecting it from people who seek to destroy it,» he wrote in a cryptic statement to CBS Mornings programs , explaining his last-minute cancellation.
Brown explains that he and his castmates "have always bonded over the fans, but working on myself made me ask myself, 'If I'm going to stay quiet now and pretend to be sick or something, whose peace am I protecting?'"«
Brown's decision to set boundaries came after years of strained relationships with several of his "Fab Five" co-stars, which he says were exacerbated by bullying and unchecked inappropriate behavior from executives and crew members.
«"Everyone just said, 'Well, that's just the way he is,' instead of saying, 'That kind of behavior is unacceptable in a professional environment,'" he says. "It constantly had a negative impact on me.".
Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Bobby Berk, and Karamo Brown. Photo: Austin Hargrave/Netflix
In a statement, production company ITV America and Scout Productions said: «We strongly disagree with any assertion that concerns raised during filming Queer Eye , were ignored, dismissed, or ignored. Throughout the series' run, any concerns raised with the production management were taken seriously and addressed appropriately. The production team consistently fostered a respectful and professional environment for the cast and crew, including ongoing training, mentoring, and other support, maintaining clear rules and procedures throughout the production process.".
They added: "We remain incredibly proud of the long-lasting impact the series has had. Queer Eye and what a community he helped shape over more than 20 years.".
A source close to the production crew admits that the show Queer Eye «"It helped a lot of people," but in reality the atmosphere was "terribly toxic.".
Karamo Brown was shot to death in his home in Los Angeles, California, on May 4, 2026. Photo by Filicia J.L. Mann.
The final straw for Brown, who says he relapsed during the show's third season after 12 years of sobriety, was when his mother, visiting the set in 2025, overheard several of his co-stars making negative comments about him. (Multiple sources confirm that Van Ness, France, and Porowski were involved in the conversation.) Embarrassed, Brown says he never tried to get her to elaborate on what exactly was said.
«I know I saw tears in my mother’s eyes,„ he recalls. “[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.”.
Brown's former co-stars did not respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.
When the series premiered on Netflix in 2018 Queer Eye — a reboot of the show that was popular in the early 2000s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy — It became an instant hit, winning 12 Emmy Awards and 40 nominations during its run.
But as the Fab Five's fame grew, so did the number of conflicts between the show's cast members. Brown says he, Van Ness, France, Porowski, and Bobby Berk (who left the show after eight seasons, replaced by Brent in 2024) first became estranged after a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him within the first few weeks of filming.
Brown claims he and one of the "Fab Five" cast members—whom he declines to name publicly—had a "fun and flirtatious" relationship during the show's casting process. Brown, who claims he was cleared of wrongdoing, initially blamed his colleague for filing the complaint, but later learned that an anonymous third party was responsible.
«"It broke us," he says of the group. "We all realized there was a rift between us.".
(A source inside the production team disputes Brown's "characterization of events," but confirms that an investigation was conducted and says "all parties wanted to move forward with the show.")
According to Brown, the strained relationships between the "Fab Five" members was fueled by the extreme pressure they faced. In the show's early days, he recalls, one senior executive bluntly told him, "You're not a star. I'm taking you out tomorrow.".
A source close to the production team adds that in the first season, threats of dismissal frequently arose between the "Fab Five" and the project's lead amid creative differences.
«"[They] wanted them to come in and tear their houses apart and tell them how terrible everything was, because that's what the original Fab Five did," the insider says. "That vitriolic homosexuality worked in the early 2000s, but the new cast is a whole different ballgame.".
Fearing retaliation, Brown says he kept up the good work for years because he'd long dreamed of being on television and changing his family's life. Besides, "when I saw the changes happening thanks to the five of us, I thought, 'Honey, okay, I can do this.'".
Karamo Brown with Tom Jackson in Season 1. Photo courtesy of Netflix.
Brown's relationship with France and Van Ness, who previously denied allegations of emotional and verbal abuse on set in 2024, was particularly strained, according to multiple sources.
«"Jonathan was often vocal about his frustrations," explains a source familiar with the cast's dynamics. "Others were more likely to create tension behind the scenes.".
Although he and Van Ness have not communicated directly, Brown does not feel any animosity.
«"The way Jonathan invests in himself is commendable and inspiring," he says. "Growth isn't always obvious, but I respect him for the way he's moving through life now.".
He also tries not to portray himself as innocent, saying, "There were times when I was hurt, and I responded in kind. I understand my role and how my actions affected people.".
Karamo Brown was shot to death in his home in Los Angeles, California, on May 4, 2026. Photo by Filicia J.L. Mann.
It took Brown two decades on television to finally find himself in this new, peaceful era. He began his career at 23, when he landed a role on the MTV reality show «"The Real World: Philadelphia"» , becoming one of the first openly gay African-Americans to appear on reality television. After the show, the Coral Springs, Florida, native helped youth as a social worker in Los Angeles while struggling with sudden fame and estrangement from his father, Lucky. (He and his father, a Jamaican immigrant, have since reconciled.)
«"I was showered with compliments, some saying I was amazing, others saying I was the fucking devil," he recalls of finding himself in the spotlight. "I wanted to die.".
In 2006, Brown attempted suicide but survived thanks to Tre's intervention.
«"Producers don't prepare you for what awaits you after you leave these shows," he says. "I didn't see the point in life. I thought, 'I don't have a father, and half the world hates me, so why not?' Thank God, Tre came home and called an ambulance.".
That same year, he learned he had fathered a son, Jason, now 29, when court papers arrived at his home demanding back child support.
«"The moment I saw [Jason], something in me healed," says Brown, who had by then sobered up. "I realized my purpose.".
Thanks to the support of Jason's mother, a friend since high school, Brown was granted full custody of the child within a few months. "My son saved my life 100 percent," he says. "His existence made me realize there was more to life.".
However, in the following years, he struggled with his addiction. After a relapse in 2018, he says, "drinking led to marijuana, cocaine, pills." "I couldn't cope, but I pretended to cope. I was so broken.".
He says he's sober again. "I haven't had a single drink, a single cocktail, nothing," says Brown, who follows the 12-step program and regularly attends meetings.
His syndicated daytime talk show Karamo was canceled in March, but Brown doesn't consider it a failure. He recently launched a new health app, Kē, and is also planning a self-improvement book and a celebrity interview series.
Karamo Brown at her home in Los Angeles for PEOPLE. Photo by Filicia J.L. Mann.
«"I've been working with Karamo for over ten years, and I've always been impressed by his loyalty and trust in those around him," says his manager, Tyler Kroos. "In an industry where teams are constantly changing, Karamo has kept many of the same people by his side throughout his career, which speaks volumes about his character.".
«"I've seen him experience both incredible highs and very difficult moments, and throughout it all, he remained thoughtful, poised, and deeply caring toward those closest to him," Kroos continues. "I think that as people enter this new chapter, they'll see the most honest and fulfilled version of Karamo in his entire career.".
Brown also hopes that he and his former co-stars can work out their differences.
«"I think we all deserve some leniency for how we behaved and treated each other," he says. "We were just trying our best. It might not have felt that way at the time, but it's perfectly clear to me now.".
He's sure they all have at least one thing in common: none of them want the show's legacy Queer Eye was tarnished.
«"I needed all of these experiences to become the best version of myself," he says, "and I want to dedicate the next stages of my life to doing good.".
Read more from Karamo Brown in the new issue of PEOPLE, which goes on sale Friday.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, emotional stress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
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Read the original article on People.