Karamo's On-Set Relapse
Queer Eye's Karamo Brown Reveals On-Set Struggles, Sexual Harassment Complaint, and Sobriety Relapse
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Karamo Brown, the culture and wellbeing expert on Netflix's 'Queer Eye,' has broken his silence in a bombshell 'People' magazine cover story, revealing that his mother overheard castmates Antoni Porowski, Tan France, and Jonathan Van Ness trashing him through production headphones People. The incident, which happened during filming of Season 10 in Washington, D.C., appears to have been the final breaking point in a years-long behind-the-scenes feud that the show's sunny on-screen image never showed.
Brown also revealed he relapsed on alcohol and drugs — including cocaine, pills, and marijuana — during the filming of Season 3, ending 12 years of sobriety KTUL. "It felt shameful because I was teaching people that they could be better, but in my own life I was trapped," Brown said.
Mom Heard It All Through a Hot Mic
During Season 10 filming, Brown's mother Charmaine visited the set. She was wearing production headphones when she overheard Porowski, France, and Van Ness criticizing her son's life choices and professional contributions TMZ. She reportedly left in tears, telling Karamo, "I thought they were your friends."
The moment hit Brown hard. He had already felt like an outsider within the group for years. But watching his mother be hurt by his costars pushed the situation past the point of no return. Brown now follows only one current castmate on Instagram — Jeremiah Brent, the interior designer who joined in Season 9 and was not involved in the hot-mic incident Page Six.
A Sexual Harassment Complaint Divided the Cast Early On
The group's problems started much earlier. During the casting process in late 2017, Brown describes a "fun and flirty" relationship with an unnamed fellow cast member The Advocate. Within weeks of filming Season 1 in early 2018, an anonymous sexual harassment complaint was filed against Brown. He was cleared after an investigation, but says the damage was already done.
Brown says the complaint created an "immediate divide" that the group never recovered from Reality Tea. Cliques formed. Trust broke down. The "Fab Five" brand that Netflix sold to the world was, according to Brown, largely a performance held together by cameras and contracts.
Relapse After 12 Years Clean During Season 3
The toxic work environment took a serious personal toll. While filming Season 3 in 2018, Brown relapsed after 12 years of sobriety Tyla. He turned to alcohol, cocaine, pills, and marijuana. He says the pressure of playing a "culture expert" on a show about self-improvement, while privately falling apart, made the shame unbearable.
Brown's struggles stayed hidden from viewers. The show continued to earn praise for its message of radical empathy and personal growth. Behind the scenes, however, Brown says he was drowning — a sharp contrast to the uplifting image the production carefully maintained for audiences and the press.
Brown Skipped Final Press Tour, Citing Abuse
On January 20, 2026, Brown canceled appearances on 'CBS Mornings' and 'The TODAY Show' less than an hour before airtime E! News. His assistant cited "mental and emotional abuse" and "bullying" as the reasons. The move left producers and the remaining cast scrambling and drew criticism from some fans and media insiders who called it unprofessional.
Porowski said publicly that he was "left with more questions than answers" about the drama KOMO News. Producers at ITV America and Scout Productions said they "strongly disagree" with claims of a toxic environment but did not address the cast feuds directly. The press tour continued without Brown, as Season 10 heads toward what is now a very clouded series finale.
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