Queer Eye for the Straight Guy premiered on Bravo in 2003 to major fanfare. Netflix scooped the show up in 2018 for a reboot. The Fab Five – Jeremiah Brent, Karamo Brown,  Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, and Antoni Porowski filmed one final season in Washington, D.C., premiering this week. But one Queer Eye star ditched their co-stars and refused to appear with them, claiming abuse. Keep reading to find out everything we know about the situation.

Queer Eye Ends With Season 10

Netflix announced in July 2025 that Queer Eye would come to an end with Season 10. The beloved makeover series filmed one final season to wrap up the show’s legacy. Season 10 was initially supposed to be ten episodes. However, it was later announced that the episode count had been cut in half.
‘Queer Eye’ cast/Credit: YouTube
The popular show’s final season has just five episodes. That was probably the first sign that there was trouble in paradise. It blew up this week when one Queer Eye star ditched multiple talk show appearances.

Fab Five Member Ditches Co-Stars

Queer Eye‘s Fab Five were supposed to appear together on CBS Mornings on Tuesday, January 20, to promote the final season. Season 10 premiered on Netflix on Wednesday, January 21. But only four members showed up.

Host Gayle King, who is reportedly out at CBS when her contract expires in May, addressed the elephant in the room immediately. “People call it the Fab Five, but one of the Fab Five is not here. We received word just, less than an hour ago that Karamo Brown is not going to be joining us today,” she told the viewers.

Karamo Brown released a statement explaining his absence. “I hope everyone remembers the main theme I have tried to teach them 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,” the statement said.
Karamo Brown/Credit: YouTube
Karamo Brown’s absence and vague statement added fuel to the fire that the Fab Five were feuding. Fans began to speculate that there was drama behind the scenes when the Queer Eye unfollowed three of his co-stars, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, and Antoni Porowski.

Hours later, the Queer Eye star skipped another interview and released a video claiming “abuse.”

Karamo Brown Claims ‘Abuse’ In Video Address

The Fab Five were supposed to appear together on NBC’s Today with Jenna & Sheinelle after leaving the CBS studios. But again, only four of them showed up. In a statement to NBC, Karamo Brown said that he “has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years. On the advice of his therapist, he skipped the promotional interviews for Queer Eye.

Karamo Brown also addressed fans directly in a video shared on Today. “Just like the themes of this seasons, I’m modeling what I believe is most important, which I want to remind you all, love yourselves and protect yourselves. That’s why I’m here at home and not there,” the Netflix star said.

He encouraged fans to watch Season 10 of Queer Eye and praised the crew. “The crew worked on it and did an amazing job. I want to shout out the crew. I want to shout out to the fans,” he said. He didn’t shout out any of his co-stars.

Karamo Brown didn’t share details of the alleged “abuse.” Stay tuned for more on this developing story.