Jan 24
'Queer Eye''s Jonathan Van Ness Addresses Karamo Brown Rift, Expressing Respect Amid Fab Five Tensions
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Jonathan Van Ness, the nonbinary grooming expert and a key member of Queer Eye's Fab Five, has broken their silence on recent tensions with culture expert Karamo Brown. In an interview with News. om. u, Van Ness stated, “I don’t want to speak for him because I respect him. I treasure the time that we had together on that show. I’m proud of him for doing what he needs to do to take care of himself. The comments address Brown's absence from press events promoting the tenth and final season of the Netflix series, which features the current Fab Five: Van Ness, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown, and Jeremiah Brent.
The rift surfaced publicly on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when Brown's assistant announced that the culture expert would not participate in group interviews, citing advice from his therapist. The assistant explained that Brown felt “worried about being bullied” and had experienced “mentally and emotionally abused for years, though no specific individuals were named in the statement. This decision highlighted underlying strains among the cast, evidenced by Brown unfollowing Van Ness, France, and Porowski on social media platforms.
Queer Eye, a transformative Netflix reboot of the early 2000s Bravo series, has long been celebrated in LGBTQ+ communities for its affirming portrayal of queer individuals helping others through makeovers in fashion, grooming, design, food, and culture. The Fab Five's dynamic has been central to its global appeal, amassing millions of viewers and promoting person-first narratives around transgender people, gay men, and diverse queer identities. However, reports of internal conflicts have periodically emerged, casting a shadow over the show's legacy as it concludes.
Van Ness's response emphasizes mutual respect and self-care, aligning with the series'themes of personal growth and emotional well-being for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating high-pressure entertainment environments. When asked about the global attention on the story, Van Ness described it as feeling “kind of out of body, reflecting on industry pressures to perform despite personal challenges.
The drama echoes past tensions within the cast. In 2023, original design expert Bobby Berk exited the show amid reported team conflicts. On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Berk posted on Instagram a photo of himself grinning while hanging off a fence post, soundtracked by Chappell Roan's 2023 track “My Kink Is Karma. The post, viewed by many as a subtle nod to the current situation, drew significant engagement from fans familiar with Berk's history on the show.
Additionally, in 2024, seven former crew members accused Van Ness of having “rage issues” and being a “nightmare” to work with. Van Ness responded on social media by captioning photos with lyrics from The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed”: “Doesn’t matter what they say, the jealous games that people play… name that tune, invoking a message of silence as defense.
For the LGBTQ+ community, Queer Eye has served as a beacon of visibility and empowerment, with cast members like Van Ness—a transgender and nonbinary person—modeling resilience and authenticity. Brown's emphasis on mental health resonates deeply in queer spaces, where transgender people and gay men often face heightened stigma around emotional vulnerability. The unfolding tensions prompt discussions on the pressures faced by public-facing LGBTQ+ figures in collaborative settings. As the final season promotes self-care and transformation, these revelations underscore the real-world complexities behind the show's polished narrative. No official statements have been released by Netflix or the cast as a collective at this time.
