Queer Eye mental health guru Karamo Brown has addressed the fallout with his co-stars after he pulled out of press appearances to promote the tenth and final season of the Netflix makeover show at the last minute.
In January, Brown did not appear alongside his four co-stars, Antoni Porowski, 42, Jonathan Van Ness, 39, Tan France, 43, and Jeremiah Brent, 41, during a segment on CBS Mornings, and instead sent in a cryptic statement to the program.
“I hope everyone remembers the main theme I have tried to teach them over the past decade, which is to focus on and to protect their mental health/peace from people… who seek to destroy it,” Brown wrote to explain his last-minute cancellation. Brown’s assistant also sent the morning show a statement saying that he “has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years.”
In a new interview with People, Brown claimed that he drew boundaries with his Fab Five co-stars due to a toxic dynamic with select members that had evolved over time, which was worsened by alleged bullying and unchecked bad behavior by executives and members of production.
“Everyone would just say, ‘Well, that’s just that person,’ instead of saying, ‘This behavior does not fly in a professional environment,’” he told the publication. “It impacted me negatively, consistently.”
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open image in galleryBrown said the dynamic reached a boiling point when his mom overheard several of his co-stars speaking negatively about him when she visited the set in 2025.
“The thing I know is the tears I saw in my mother’s eyes,” he claimed. “[She kept repeating], ‘I thought they were your friends.’ It made me realize I can no longer stay silent about how often I was made to feel like an outsider.”
The show’s production company, ITV America and Scout Productions, denied allegations of toxic culture in a statement to People, saying: “We strongly disagree with any characterization that concerns raised during the production of Queer Eye were ignored, dismissed or allowed to continue unchecked. Throughout the series’ run, any issues brought to production leadership were taken seriously and addressed appropriately.”
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“Production consistently fostered a respectful and professional environment for the cast and crew — which included ongoing training, coaching and other support for the cast — maintaining clear workplace policies and practices throughout filming.”
They added: “We remain incredibly proud of Queer Eye’s lasting impact and the community the series helped build over more than 20 years.” The Independent has contacted Brown’s co-stars and ITV America and Scout Productions for comment.
Brown also disclosed that he relapsed during the show’s third season, in 2018, after 12 years of sobriety.
“A drink would lead to weed, cocaine, pills,” he said. “I wasn’t coping right, but I pretended like I was. I was so broken.”
He said he felt trapped in his life, despite being a constant source of positivity to the Queer Eye participants as their mental health advisor.
“I was depressed,” he said. “It felt shameful because I was teaching people that they could be better, but in my own life I was trapped.”
open image in galleryQueer Eye, a reboot of the 2000s series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, initially starred Van Ness, France, Porowski and Bobby Berk (who exited the show after eight seasons and was replaced by Brent in 2024). The group found fame as the show won 12 Emmy awards and 40 nominations over the course of its run.
The series saw the five experts — specializing in fashion, grooming, home environment, cooking and life coaching — providing a life-changing transformation to a hero nominated by their friends or family.
While Brown did not name the particular co-stars he had tension with, he said he felt no hostility to Van Ness.
“The work I have seen Jonathan pouring into himself is commendable and inspiring,” Brown said of Van Ness. “Growth isn’t always public-facing, but I respect him for how he’s currently moving through life.”
Brown admitted he recognized his part in the fallout, saying: “There were times I was hurt and would lash back out.”
He also reflected that stepping back from promoting the show allowed him more time to heal. “This new chapter feels safe and it feels triumphant because it has been a year-and-a-half of real work on myself,” he said.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you