Karamo Brown is finally speaking on the Queer Eye drama and it’s a lot more complicated than a simple Fab Five fallout.
In a new PEOPLE cover story this week, the culture expert opened up about the long-rumoured tensions behind the scenes of the Netflix hit, painting a picture of a workplace that didn’t always match the show’s wholesome, group-hug energy.
“Everyone would just say, ‘Well, that’s just that person’, instead of saying, ‘This behaviour does not fly in a professional environment’,” Brown said, adding that the vibe on set “impacted me negatively, consistently”.
According to Brown, the cracks started early. He claims a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him in the first few weeks of filming, following what he described as a “fun and flirty” dynamic with an unnamed Fab Five member during casting. Initially he had accused the cast mate of filing the complaint, but later found out it was an anonymous third-party. He says he was cleared after an investigation, but the damage lingered.
“It broke us,” he said. “We all knew the divide between us.”
From there, things didn’t exactly smooth over. Brown alleges that both cast dynamics and production pressures contributed to a tense environment, recalling a senior figure telling him bluntly, “You are not a star. I will get rid of you tomorrow”.
Production companies ITV America and Scout Productions have pushed back on that version of events, saying in a statement that they “strongly disagree with any characterisation that concerns raised during the production of Queer Eye were ignored, dismissed or allowed to continue unchecked”, and maintaining that issues were “taken seriously and addressed appropriately”.
The interview also adds context to Brown’s headline-making decision to skip joint press earlier this year. At the time, his absence — including from a CBS Mornings appearance — was attributed to concerns about “being bullied”.
@jennasheinelle Karamo sent in a clip explaining why he’s not here to promote “Queer Eye” in person on #JennaandSheinelle
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Now, he says that decision came after a particularly personal moment: his mum overhearing cast mates speaking negatively about him while visiting set in 2025.
Back in January, TMZ reported that Karamo fell out with three of his co‑stars after his mum overheard Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jonathan van Ness allegedly talking negatively about him, including criticising “certain lifestyle choices” and judging how he looked and dressed.
“The thing I know is the tears I saw in my mother’s eyes,” Karamo said to PEOPLE.
“[She kept repeating], ‘I thought they were your friends’. It made me realise I can no longer stay silent about how often I was made to feel like an outsider.”
Despite the tension, Brown stopped short of naming names and was notably measured when addressing Jonathan, who has previously faced separate allegations about on-set behaviour.
“The work I have seen Jonathan pouring into himself is commendable and inspiring,” Brown said.
“Growth isn’t always public-facing, but I respect him for how he’s currently moving through life.”
He also acknowledged his own role in the fallout: “There were times I was hurt and would lash back out. I recognise my part and how things I did impacted people.”
The interview touches on broader struggles, too. Brown revealed he relapsed during season three after more than a decade of sobriety, saying, “I wasn’t coping right, but I pretended like I was. I was so broken.” He adds he’s now been sober for a year and a half.
For now, there’s no neat resolution, but Brown seems open to one. “I think we all deserve a bit of grace for how we handled ourselves and one another,” he said. “We were just doing our best.”
Whether that grace extends to a proper Fab Five reconciliation is still very much up in the air.
Lead image: Getty / Instagram
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