Karamo Brown Unfollows Most 'Queer Eye' Co-Stars, Cites Emotional Abuse

Karamo Brown, the culture and mental health expert on Netflix's rebooted Queer Eye, did not attend scheduled live interviews with his co-stars on CBS Mornings and Today with Jenna & Sheinelle on January 20, 2026, to promote the show's 10th and final season. Instead, statements from Brown were read aloud by hosts Gayle King on CBS Mornings and Sheinelle Jones on Today. Brown's assistant informed CBS Mornings that he was withdrawing due to fears of "being bullied. "

In a statement read by Gayle King, Brown said, "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 or a world who seek to destroy it; which is why I can’t be there today. " For the Today show, Brown provided a video message stating he had "felt mentally and emotionally abused for years, "and his therapist encouraged him "to protect himself and his peace by not attending. " In the video, he added, "Just like the themes of this season, I'm modeling what I believe is most important, which I want to remind you all, love yourselves and protect yourselves. That's why I'm here at home and not there. " Brown thanked fans, the crew, and Netflix executives but did not mention his co-stars.

The four attending co-stars—Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, Jonathan Van Ness, and Tan France—were caught off guard. Porowski said, "Surprised is a fair understatement. I will say our Queer Eye family, we’ve been doing this for almost a decade, which is pretty wild to believe, and families are complicated. And we’re definitely not excluded from that. " He added, "But I think two things can exist at the same time. And while that is definitely true, we’re also here to showcase the incredible heroes that we have and honor the legacy of this past decade of our lives. "

Jonathan Van Ness supported Brown's choice, stating, "I would say one thing that I’ve been so honored to learn about Karamo in that time is that we have to meet people where they’re at. And he has taught people to center what they need. .. . And I’m actually really proud of him. Center what you need, do the things that you need to do to take care of you. " Van Ness continued, "It’s really beautiful. We do need to center what’s best for us sometimes. And I take my hat off to him for doing that today. " No direct comments from Brent or France were reported in the immediate coverage.

Prior to the missed interviews, Brown had unfollowed co-stars Antoni Porowski, Tan France, and Jonathan Van Ness. Reports noted this occurred last week, fueling speculation of a rift. Brown did not specify individuals in his abuse allegations.

Queer Eye, rebooted by Netflix in 2018, features the "Fab Five"—Brown , Porowski , Van Ness , France , and originally Bobby Berk , who left after season 8. Jeremiah Brent replaced Berk in later seasons. The show has run for nearly a decade, transforming lives through makeovers while emphasizing self-love and mental health—core themes Brown referenced.

As openly gay men central to LGBTQ+ representation on television, the Queer Eye cast has long advocated for mental health awareness among queer people and their allies. Brown's emphasis on protecting one's peace aligns with his role, where he often counseled participants on emotional well-being. Van Ness's supportive response underscores a commitment to meeting people where they are, a value Brown has taught on the show.

This event occurs amid prior cast tensions. In 2024, a Rolling Stone exposé alleged Jonathan Van Ness exhibited "emotionally abusive"behavior and "rage issues"on set, which Van Ness denied. Bobby Berk's 2024 departure followed a personal conflict with Tan France, as Berk described in Vanity Fair: "Tan and I had a moment. There was a situation—and that’s between Tan and I—and it has nothing to do with the show. " Berk had assumed the show would end without full cast renewal, but Netflix recast the design role.

Porowski's comment that "families are complicated"reflects the cast's self-described familial bond, strained by high-pressure production. For LGBTQ+ audiences, Queer Eye has been a beacon of affirmation, making these revelations poignant as the series ends with season 10 premiering January 21, 2026.