Antoni Porowski Addresses Fan Criticism Over 'Queer Eye' Backstage Drama Amid Karamo Brown Absence

The tenth and final season of Netflix's Queer Eye premiered this week, marking the end of nearly a decade of the transformative reality series featuring its "Fab Five"experts: Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, and Karamo Brown. Off-screen tensions came to light when Brown, the show's mental health expert, abruptly skipped joint promotional interviews, prompting public discussion within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond.

The conflict surfaced prominently on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, when Brown canceled his appearance on CBS Mornings less than an hour before the segment with co-stars Porowski, Van Ness, France, and Brent. Host Gayle King read a statement from Brown's assistant, stating he could not attend due to concerns about "being bullied. Porowski, the food and wine expert, reacted live on air, saying, "Surprised is a fair understatement. 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.

Brown later shared a video message for Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, explaining his absence: "Just like the themes of this season, 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. His assistant's statement to the show added that Brown "has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years"and was following therapist advice to protect his peace. Brown thanked the crew and Netflix in his message but omitted mention of his co-stars.

Speculation about the feud intensified after Brown unfollowed most cast members on social media two weeks prior, retaining follows only for Brent and former cast member Bobby Berk. Reports suggest the issues stemmed from Brown overhearing negative comments from co-stars. Berk, who exited after season eight in 2023, had already addressed the drama in a prior social media post.

On January 21, Porowski posted an Instagram carousel reflecting on Queer Eye memories, captioning it: "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. 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. A fan commented: "Ngl 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. If you can’t work out your own mess, how can you be in charge of fixing someone else’s life?

Porowski replied: "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. This response echoed his earlier comments on CBS Mornings and aligned with the cast's collective stance during Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, where Porowski said, "We fully support. . him taking care of himself.

For LGBTQ+ audiences, Queer Eye has been a beacon of representation, with its openly gay and queer cast uplifting diverse heroes through style, grooming, design, food, and culture—core themes now juxtaposed against these personal struggles. Brown's emphasis on mental health protection resonates deeply in queer communities, where such issues are prevalent, while Porowski's words highlight that authenticity includes navigating interpersonal conflicts without diminishing the show's impact. Season 10, set in Washington, D. . focuses on new heroes, maintaining the series'legacy despite the cloud of drama. The cast has not issued further on-the-record statements beyond these appearances, leaving fans to reflect on the human elements behind the show's message of self-love and acceptance.