- - Bobby Berk Speaks Out amid Karamo Brown “Queer Eye” Cast Drama After Brown Skipped Multiple Interviews

Natalia SenanayakeJanuary 24, 2026 at 12:44 AM

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Amy Sussman/Getty

Bobby Berk and Karamo Brown in January 2020 -

Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown skipped multiple live interviews with his castmates on Tuesday, Jan. 20 after saying he felt “mentally and emotionally abused for years”

His former costar Bobby Berk showed his support for Brown after he made the decision not to do press appearances for the final season of Queer Eye

Berk previously announced he was leaving the Netflix reality show in 2023 after eight seasons, and now stars on his own HGTV show called Junk or Jackpot?

Bobby Berk is showing his support for Karamo Brown after his former Queer Eye costar made the shocking decision to skip multiple live interviews with the current cast of the Netflix reality series.

Brown, 45, was set to make a number of morning show appearances alongside his Queer Eye costars Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness and Jeremiah Brent on Jan. 20, however he decided to pull out of them shortly beforehand, PEOPLE previously reported.

Berk — who starred on Queer Eye for eight seasons before announcing his departure in 2023 — showed his support for Brown in the comments section of his former costar's most recent Instagram post on Thursday, Jan. 22.

"What was your storm that actually ended up clearing your path?" Brown captioned the post, seemingly alluding to the drama that occurred earlier in the week.

In the comments section, Berk, 44, left a simple heart hands and red heart emoji to show his friend that he's there for him. He also responded to a fan's comment on one of his own Instagram posts, saying he "of course" wouldn't be mad at anyone who wanted to watch Queer Eye's tenth and final season, which premiered on Jan. 21.

Karamo Brown, one of the “Fab Five” of Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” did not participate in this morning’s interview with the cast, writing to CBS Mornings that he hopes people remember to “protect their mental health/peace.”Brown’s assistant told CBS Mornings that the expert was… pic.twitter.com/oDDtlo8Y7v

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 20, 2026

Berk's supportive gesture comes after Brown skipped out on the multiple press appearances with the cast to "protect" his mental health. A source later told PEOPLE the decision was in response to an incident that occurred during filming for the final season.

Per the insider, Brown’s “mom was on set and overheard them talking about Karamo and she let him know.” The source adds, “It wasn’t meant to be gossiping or bullying but it caused a break in his relationship with Antoni, Tan and Jonathan.”

During one of the live interviews that Brown skipped, CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King read a statement from the expert to his castmates that initially explained why he made the choice he did.

“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 read.

According to a post on X, Brown’s assistant told CBS Mornings that “the expert was worried about being bullied.”

Brown also shared a statement with Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, in which he said he “has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years,” and was advised by his therapist “to protect himself and his peace by not attending.”

While Brown and Berk appear to be on good terms, Berk previously opened up to PEOPLE about his former costar allegedly calling him out for announcing his new HGTV show Junk or Jackpot? one day after it was revealed that Queer Eye was ending.

Berk told PEOPLE in an interview published in August 2025 that the announcement for his show date was already set, and it was unintentional that the timing fell so close to the news that Queer Eye would conclude with its 10th season.

“I have to say, I swear on my mother’s life, my show announcement date was set,” the interior designer told PEOPLE at the time. “No, this was planned. Show announcements don’t happen on a whim.”

While he insists he didn’t time his show announcement around the Queer Eye news, Berk admits he received criticism for it, naming Brown specifically.

“Even Karamo [Brown] was like, ‘Girl, the day after?’ I’m like, ‘No, no, no. I promise you it was already planned,” Berk said.

Rob Kim/Getty

'Queer Eye' cast in January 2018

Berk was part of the original Fab Five before he announced his departure from the show in 2023. In 2024, it was revealed that Jeremiah Brent would take his place.

After Berk revealed he was leaving the show, a source told PEOPLE that his departure had nothing to do with any issues between him and his castmates.

“Bobby’s departure is unrelated to relationships with his castmates," a source close to the situation exclusively told PEOPLE at the time. "The parting was amicable.”

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However, the design expert later admitted to some of the drama he experienced with his castmates during a 2024 interview with Vanity Fair.

“Tan and I had a moment,” he said of France at the time. “There was a situation, and that’s between Tan and I, and it has nothing to do with the show. It was something personal that had been brewing — and nothing romantic, just to clarify that.”

“Should I have unfollowed Tan? No,” Berk continued. “Maybe I should have just muted him. But that day, I was angry, and that’s the end of it. We became like siblings — and siblings are always going to fight.”

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”