Karamo Brown is opening up about the behind-the-scenes tensions that led him to distance himself from Queer Eye, saying years of conflict on the hit Netflix series took a toll on his mental health.
In a new interview with PEOPLE, Brown said he stepped away from promotional events surrounding the show’s final season after deciding he could no longer ignore what he described as a toxic work environment.
Brown told the outlet that he spent years struggling privately while presenting an upbeat image on screen as Queer Eye’s culture and lifestyle expert.
The 45-year-old reality TV star said a turning point came when his mother visited the set and overheard several cast members speaking negatively about him, according to PEOPLE. Brown said seeing his mother’s reaction made him realize how often he had felt excluded by people he considered friends.
“The thing I know is the tears I saw in my mother’s eyes,” Brown told PEOPLE. “[She kept repeating], ‘I thought they were your friends.’”
Brown told PEOPLE he believes tensions among the cast dated back years and were worsened by what he described as poor handling of workplace conflicts by production leadership.
In response, Queer Eye producers ITV America and Scout Productions disputed Brown’s characterization of events, telling PEOPLE that concerns raised during production were taken seriously and addressed appropriately. The companies said they worked to maintain a professional and respectful environment throughout the show’s run.
Brown also revealed he relapsed during the third season of Queer Eye after more than a decade of sobriety, according to PEOPLE. He said he has since returned to recovery and has now been sober for more than a year.
The interview marks Brown’s first major public comments since he skipped promotional appearances tied to the show’s tenth and final season. At the time, he cited the need to protect his mental health and personal peace.
Despite the conflict, Brown told PEOPLE he hopes to eventually reconcile with his former castmates and does not want the show’s legacy overshadowed by the drama.
Brown first rose to fame as a cast member on MTV’s The Real World: Philadelphia before becoming a television host, author, and mental health advocate. He joined the reboot of Queer Eye when it debuted on Netflix in 2018 and remained part of the series throughout its 10-season run.
Today, Brown is focusing on new projects, including a wellness app called Kē, an upcoming self-help book, and a planned celebrity interview series.
