Queer Eye star Karamo Brown dramatically canceled multiple morning show appearances while saying he was scared of being bullied.
Brown, 45, pulled out of a planned appearance on CBS Mornings Tuesday.
His four co-stars were filmed looking somber and clutching at one another as host Gayle King quizzed them about what had happened.
But they would only reply in tense, cryptic statements, sparking speculation about who Brown’s alleged bully or bullies were.
‘We call it a “Fab Five” but one of the Fab Five is not here,’ an uncharacteristically somber King began as she chatted with the other stars on CBS Mornings Tuesday.
‘We received word just – less than an hour ago that Karamo Brown is not going to be joining us today.’
The CBS Mornings host went on to read a portion of Brown’s statement, saying that the reality star ‘apologized for not attending’ and thanked the show’s audience
‘I want to rip the Band-Aid off and just get it out of the way so we can really talk about the show,’ King assured a seated Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, Jonathan Van Ness, and Tan France.
Queer Eye star Karamo Brown chose not to join his fellow co-stars on CBS Mornings on Tuesday for a prescheduled spot, citing ‘bullying’
Brown – a cast member since the reboot’s launch in 2018 – sent in a video statement to NBC’s Today before bowing out there as well. He said he has been ‘mentally and emotionally abused for years’ but did not say by whom
‘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 and peace from people or a world who seek to destroy it; which is why I can’t be there today,’ Brown wrote in the portion read by King.
‘His assistant also says he’s worried about being bullied,’ King added.
‘I’m very sorry to hear this – that he apparently feels this way. What do you have to say?’ she asked Brown’s costars, who are promoting the show’s final season.
King quickly clarified that the cast were ‘as surprised as we are’ by the cancellation.
Porowski, with his hand on France’s lap, replied: ‘Yeah – surprised is a fair understatement.’
Not offering much detail, Porowski added: ‘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.’
‘And while that is definitely true, we’re also here to showcase these incredible heroes that we have and really honor the legacy of this past decade of our lives,’ he added, as France sat silent with a slight smirk.
Brent, audibly emotional, chimed in to insist that his ‘experience with this group has been transformative.’ He maintained the show – rebooted from the 2000’s Queer Eye For the Straight Guy – is about ‘highlighting the best of humanity.’
The depleted cast put on a united front during both appearances. They did not offer any details on why Brown felt he has been bullied
Brown – seen here with costar Jonathan Van Newss – rose to fame on MTV’s The Real World: Philadelphia in the 2000s, when the initial Queer Eye for the Straight Guy was still on the air
‘And nobody needs that more than us – this country right now.’
King – after disclaiming that she ‘did not want to negate how Karamo feels’ – went on to ask if the cast had anything to say directly to their costar.
Hair stylist Jonathan Van Ness, who was previously accused of having ‘rage issues’, began: ‘I think one thing that I was so honored to learn from Kamaro during my time – just like he said in that package – we have to meet people where they’re at. And he has taught people to center what they need.
‘And I’m actually really proud of him. Center what you need, do the things you need to do to take care of you – I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel like that sometimes. So, I think it’s really beautiful. I think we do need to center what’s best for us sometimes, and my hat off to him for doing that.
The situation caused a similar stir when the group joined Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, where Brown added new accusations to his statement while sending in a video as well.
Brown said he ‘has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years’, but did not say by whom.
He made the decision to not appear on the program ‘to protect himself and his peace’, Jones read.
The show was rebooted for Netlix eight years ago with a new ‘Fab Five’ – Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Brown, and Jeremiah Brent
Pictured, the forced Fab Four during their Tuesday appearance on NBC’s Today with Jenna & Sheinelle
The cast member added in the video: ‘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. But continue to watch the show,’ he said, before thanking the crew and Netflix executives.
Noticeably absent from the hat tip were his four cohosts. The show’s tenth and final season starts streaming this month.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for both Brown and Netflix for comment.
