Karamo Brown is breaking his silence.
The 45-year-old Queer Eye star got candid in a new cover story with People about the conclusion of the series, which was tangled up in drama amid allegations of bullying and bad behavior behind-the-scenes.
If you didn’t know, he pulled out of a CBS Mornings segment to promote the final season due to fears of bullying.
Antoni Porowski recently opened up about how it all went down, and now Karamo is doing the same.
Karamo referenced years of toxicity with several of his co-stars, as well as bad behavior by executives and members of production, but said 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?’”
“Everyone would just say, ‘Well, that’s just that person,’ instead of saying, ‘This behavior does not fly in a professional environment. It impacted me negatively, consistently.”
Karamo also said that he relapsed during Season 3 after 12 years of being sober, and his mom allegedly heard several co-stars talking badly about him during a 2025 set visit. People also claims that “multiple sources” tell them it was Jonathan, Tan France and Antoni involved in the conversation.
“The thing I know is the tears I saw in my mother’s eyes. [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,” he told the outlet.
Karamo also said he and one of his co-stars had a “fun and flirty” relationship amid casting, and then a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him in the first few weeks of filming. He says he was cleared of the complaint, and accused his co-star of filing it, only to learn it was an anonymous third party.
“It broke us. We all knew the divide between us,” he says of the complaint.
A production source then told People that while they dispute Karamo‘s “characterization of events,” an investigation did take place, and “all parties wanted to move on with the show.”
He also claims a senior leader told him at one point: “You are not a star. I will get rid of you tomorrow.”
A production insider also said: “[They] wanted them to come in and rip the heroes’ houses apart and tell them how ugly everything was because that’s what the original Fab Five did. That catty gayness worked in the early 2000s, but that’s not who the new cast was.”
A source also said that Karamo‘s relationship with Jonathan and Tan was “fraught.”
“Jonathan was someone whose frustrations were often expressed openly. Others were more likely to create tension behind the scenes,” a source told People. (There was also a 2024 Rolling Stone investigation about Jonathan Van Ness’ alleged abusive behavior, which Jonathan denied.)
As for his thoughts on Jonathan today, Karamo said: “The work I have seen Jonathan pouring into himself is commendable and inspiring. Growth isn’t always public-facing, but I respect him for how he’s currently moving through life.”
“There were times I was hurt and would lash back out. I recognize my part and how things I did impacted people,” Karamo admitted.
“I think we all deserve a bit of grace for how we handled ourselves and one another. We were just doing our best. It may not have felt like that in the moment, but it’s very clear to me now.”
“I needed all these experiences to grow into my best self, and I want to spend these next chapters of my life doing good,” he added.
TV America and Scout Productions said in response to the People cover story: “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. 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.”
Hear more about Antoni‘s side of the drama.
Posted To:Antoni Porowski Bobby Berk Jonathan Van Ness Karamo Brown Netflix Queer Eye Tan France
