Tan France shared his reaction to fellow “Queer Eye” castmate Karamo Brown’s assertion that there was a toxic culture on the set of the show before its conclusion after 10 seasons earlier this year.
In a People magazine cover story in June titled “Surviving My Reality TV Nightmare,” Brown said he clashed with some of his costars, describing bullying from executives and production members and opened up about relapsing in 2018 during the third season of the show.
France, 43, spoke with Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones on TODAY Aug. 6 about Brown’s comments.
“First of all, I’m sad that was the experience that he felt like it was a nightmare, as I said it was a dream for me,” France said. “I couldn’t believe it. And so for me, I look back thinking, gosh, we did what I think was incredible work and had a phenomenal experience.
“I’m so proud of what we did, and all I want is for the audience to remember that. I want them to know that it was so real for me on that show. Every experience that I had was special,” he added.
The Netflix show released its 10th and final season in January. The show’s producers disputed Brown’s claims about the environment on set.
“We strongly disagree with any characterization that concerns raised during the production of ‘Queer Eye’ were ignored, dismissed or allowed to continue unchecked,” the show’s production company, ITV America and Scout Productions, told People at the time.
Brown was set to attend a Jan. 20 interview on TODAY with France and castmates Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness and Jeremiah Brent to promote the show, but he canceled last-minute.
He explained his absence in a June 23 appearance on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle.
“One of the things that I’ve been teaching people right now is that two things can be true at once,” he said. “‘Queer Eye’ was one of the most amazing shows — the impact that it had culturally for 10 years and what we were able to do. One of the things I’ll say about my cast, no matter what we were going through, we always made sure that the hero was No. 1, that the person we were helping, the crew worked so hard.
“But on the flip side, you can also have a bad experience,” he continued. “And you can also feel as if you’re not being protected and things are not going well. So while I loved what we did, it didn’t mean that I loved what was happening to me.”
During the group interview without Brown on TODAY in January, one of his costars remarked on his absence.
“I think (we’re) definitely a little surprised, but at the same time, like, look, we’re so sorry that he’s not here,” Porowski said.
France made it clear in his Aug. 6 appearance on TODAY that he enjoyed his time on the show, which followed a “Fab Five” team of gay professionals giving lifestyle makeovers to guests.
“Now I look back thinking, gosh, we won loads of Emmys, we were nominated for an Emmy again this season, that’s wild after all those years to still feel so positively about your work,” he said. “If they wanted to do another 10 seasons, I’m like yeah, it was the greatest gift of my life.”