Queer Eye’s Antoni Addresses ‘Backstage Drama’ Amid Karamo Claims

Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski is addressing viewers who are concerned that perceived “backstage drama” is harming the show’s wholesome “vibe.”

Porowski, 41, shared a series of images from the Netflix show’s 10th and final season, which premiered on Wednesday, January 21, via Instagram, encouraging fans to tune in.

“It’s not about how or even that it ended — the journey of it all was the part I’ll hold close to my heart,” the celebrity chef captioned the post, which featured snaps of him and costars Karamo Brown, Tan France, Jonathan Van Ness and Jeremiah Brent.

Porowski continued, “Thank you to each and every one of you who watched, laughed, cried, screamed, binged, and related to the stories we were lucky enough to be a part of for almost a decade. Tenth and final season of @queereye is now on Netflix 🫶🏼.”

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One follower commented that “the backstage drama kinda kills the vibe of the show. I’m not motivated to watch you all portray to be a big happy family on every episode knowing it’s all fake.”

The person added, “If you can’t work out your own mess, how can you be in charge of fixing someone else’s life?”

Porowski responded, “A lot of us come from complicated families and still have jobs and positive things we’re passionate about. Authenticity is about being honest about the complexities of life and knowing two things can exist at the same time ❤️.”

The chef’s comment echoed remarks he made during a Tuesday, January 20, appearance on CBS Mornings after it was revealed that Brown, 45, would not be joining his castmates for a joint interview.

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In a statement read out by host Gayle King, Brown said, “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.”

King informed viewers that Brown’s assistant had told her that Brown was “worried about being bullied.”

Porowski told King that he was “surprised” to hear about Brown’s absence.

“I will say, our Queer Eye family, we’ve been doing this for almost a decade — which is pretty wild to believe — and families are complicated, and we’re definitely not excluded from that,” he said of the show’s culture expert. “But I think two things can exist at the same time. And while that is definitely true, we’re also here to showcase these incredible heroes we have and really honor the legacy of this past decade of our lives and all these wonderful heroes that we’ve had the blessing of getting to meet and have conversations with.”

Brown also skipped a group interview on Tuesday’s episode of the Today show. Cohost Sheinelle Jones read out a statement from his assistant which read, “Karamo has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years, and he’s been advised by his therapist to protect himself and his peace by not attending.”

Porowski, Brown, France and Van Ness have been part of Queer Eye since it launched in 2016. Brent joined in season 9, replacing former interior design expert Bobby Berk, who was part of the original cast.