Karamo Brown, a star of Netflix's Queer Eye, abruptly withdrew from promotional interviews for the show's final season, according to his assistant, due to years of mental and emotional abuse. The other cast members expressed surprise during appearances on CBS Mornings and NBC's Today. Brown's decision highlights ongoing tensions within the group as the series concludes after a decade.
On January 20, 2026, Karamo Brown, part of the Fab Five on Netflix's Queer Eye, did not attend scheduled TV interviews to promote the tenth and final season. His assistant informed producers that Brown has experienced mental and emotional abuse for years and was advised by his therapist to prioritize his well-being by skipping the appearances.
During the CBS Mornings segment, host Gayle King shared that the team learned of Brown's absence less than an hour before taping. The remaining cast members—Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, and Jeremiah Brent—proceeded with the discussion. Porowski described the situation as surprising, noting, "families are complicated, and we're definitely not excluded from that." He emphasized the group's focus on honoring the show's legacy and the heroes they feature.
Brent, who joined in season nine replacing Bobby Berk, said his time with the cast had been transformative and supportive. Van Ness praised Brown's choice, stating, "I'm actually really proud of him... I think we do need to center what's best for us sometimes."
Brown issued a statement: "I hope everyone remembers the main theme I have tried to teach 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."
On NBC's Today, host Sheinelle Jones relayed similar details from Brown's assistant about the long-standing abuse and therapeutic advice.
Queer Eye, a reboot of the 2000s Bravo series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, launched on Netflix in 2018. It has run for ten seasons, earning seven Emmy Awards for outstanding structured reality program. The final season, set in Washington, D.C., premieres on January 22, 2026.
Past tensions surfaced in comments about Berk's 2023 departure, which involved a personal rift with France, likened to sibling disputes rather than anything related to the show.
