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\nQueer Eye\u2019s Karamo Brown skipped multiple live interviews with his castmates on Tuesday, Jan. 20 after saying he felt \u201cmentally and emotionally abused for years\u201dHis 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\u00a0Berk 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?<\/p>\n
Bobby Berk<\/a> is showing his support for Karamo Brown<\/a> after his former Queer Eye costar made the shocking decision to skip multiple live interviews with the current cast of the Netflix reality series.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Brown, 45, was set to make a number of morning show appearances alongside his Queer Eye costars Antoni Porowski<\/a>, Tan France<\/a>, Jonathan Van Ness<\/a> and Jeremiah Brent<\/a> on Jan. 20, however he decided to pull out of them shortly beforehand<\/a>, PEOPLE previously reported.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Berk \u2014 who starred on Queer Eye for eight seasons before announcing his departure in 2023 \u2014 showed his support for Brown in the comments section of his former costar’s most recent Instagram<\/a> post on Thursday, Jan. 22.\n<\/p>\n “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.\n<\/p>\n 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<\/a> 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.\n<\/p>\n 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<\/a> for the final season.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Per the insider, Brown\u2019s \u201cmom was on set and overheard them talking about Karamo and she let him know.\u201d The source adds, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t meant to be gossiping or bullying but it caused a break in his relationship with Antoni, Tan and Jonathan.\u201d\n<\/p>\n During one of the live interviews that Brown skipped, CBS Mornings anchor Gayle King<\/a> read a statement from the expert to his castmates that initially explained why he made the choice he did.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d the statement read.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n According to a post on X<\/a>, Brown\u2019s assistant told CBS Mornings that \u201cthe expert was worried about being bullied.\u201d\n<\/p>\n Brown also shared a statement with Today with Jenna & Sheinelle, in which he said he \u201chas felt mentally and emotionally abused for years,\u201d and was advised by his therapist \u201cto protect himself and his peace by not attending.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n 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?<\/a> one day after it was revealed that Queer Eye was ending.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n 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.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cI have to say, I swear on my mother\u2019s life, my show announcement date was set,\u201d the interior designer told PEOPLE at the time. \u201cNo, this was planned. Show announcements don\u2019t happen on a whim.\u201d\n<\/p>\n While he insists he didn\u2019t time his show announcement around the Queer Eye news, Berk admits he received criticism for it, naming Brown specifically.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cEven Karamo [Brown<\/a>] was like, \u2018Girl, the day after?\u2019 I\u2019m like, \u2018No, no, no. I promise you it was already planned,\u201d Berk said.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n ‘Queer Eye’ cast in January 2018.<\/p>\n Rob Kim\/Getty<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \u201cBobby\u2019s departure is unrelated to relationships with his castmates,” a source close to the situation exclusively told PEOPLE at the time. “The parting was amicable.\u201d\u00a0\n<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n