Queer Eye star Karamo Brown is opening up on why he skipped press appearances for the final season of the hit Netflix present and shares extra about his tough experiences filming the reality TV sequence, together with relapsing in the course of the present’s third season and his mother overhearing others badmouthing him on set.
In January, Brown pulled out of appearances on CBS Mornings and Immediately with the remainder of the Fab 5 (Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France and Jeremiah Brent), doing so on the final minute and merely releasing the next assertion: “I hope everyone remembers the main theme I have tried to teach them over the past decade, which is to focus on and protect their mental health/peace from people or a world who seek to destroy it; which is why I can’t be there today.”
Moreover, Brown’s assistant instructed CBS Mornings and Immediately, respectively, that he was “worried about being bullied” and had “felt mentally and emotionally abused for years.”
Now, Brown tells People in a cover story that he and his co-stars “had always come together because of the fans, but because of the work I’d done on myself, I asked, ‘If I stay quiet right now and pretend I’m sick or something, whose peace am I protecting?’”
And he continues to argue he handled toxicity together with his costars, made worse by bullying and unchecked unhealthy conduct he alleges he skilled from execs and members of the manufacturing.
“Everyone would just say, ‘Well, that’s just that person,’ instead of saying, ‘This behavior does not fly in a professional environment,’” he says. “It impacted me negatively, consistently.”
Queer Eye manufacturing firm ITV America and Scout Productions disagreed in an announcement with Brown’s suggestion that considerations have been dismissed or missed and affirmed that the manufacturing aimed to create a “respectful and professional environment.”
“We strongly disagree with any characterization that concerns raised during the production of Queer Eye were ignored, dismissed or allowed to continue unchecked,” the assertion reads. “Throughout the series’ run, any issues brought to production leadership were taken seriously and addressed appropriately. 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. We remain incredibly proud of Queer Eye‘s lasting impact and the community the series helped build over more than 20 years.”
Brown argues that he and his co-stars, together with unique star Bobby Berk who was changed by Brent in 2024, first grew to become divided after a sexual harassment grievance was filed towards Brown within the first few weeks of filming. He claims an unnamed member of the Fab 5 and he had a “fun and flirty” relationship throughout casting. He initially accused his co-star of submitting the grievance. He later discovered it got here from an nameless third occasion and defined that he was cleared of any wrongdoing. A supply inside manufacturing disputed to Individuals how Brown characterised what occurred however says an investigation was performed and “all parties wanted to move on with the show.”
Nonetheless, Brown remembers a senior chief telling him within the present’s early days, “You are not a star. I will get rid of you tomorrow.”
A number of sources instructed Individuals that Brown had notably tense relationships with France and Van Ness, who beforehand mentioned {that a} Rolling Stone exposé about him being emotionally abusive was “not really based in reality.”
Brown and Van Ness haven’t spoken, however Brown speaks extremely of his former co-star.
“The work I have seen Jonathan pouring into himself is commendable and inspiring,” he says. “Growth isn’t always public-facing, but I respect him for how he’s currently moving through life.”
Brown additionally admits generally, “I was hurt and would lash back out. I recognize my part and how things I did impacted people.”
He additionally talks to Individuals about how he relapsed in 2018, in the course of the present’s third season, after 12 years of sobriety.
“A drink would lead to weed, cocaine, pills,” he says. “I wasn’t coping right, but I pretended like I was. I was so broken.”
He says he’s now sober once more, telling Individuals, “I’ve not had a single drink, cocktail — nothing.”
Brown additionally confirms what was reported by TMZ shortly after he backed out of the Queer Eye press appearances, that his mother overheard his co-stars badmouthing him when she visited the set in 2025.
“The thing I know is the tears I saw in my mother’s eyes,” he says. “[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.”
His former co-stars didn’t reply to Individuals‘s requests for remark, however Brown is hoping they will resolve any points.
“I think we all deserve a bit of grace for how we handled ourselves and one another,” he says. “We were just doing our best. It may not have felt like that in the moment, but it’s very clear to me now.”
