Karamo Brown fell out with his “Queer Eye” costars after his mother overheard them talking about him on a hot mic.
Karamo skipped a “CBS Mornings” interview with the cast ahead of the Season 10 premiere to “focus and protect” his mental health.
The TV host’s mom overheard cast members Jonathan Van Ness (left), Tan France (middle) and Antoni Porowski (2nd from right) talking about Karamo on a hot mic.
She was able to hear the discussion because a production assistant gave her headphones to wear while she visited with Karamo on the set of Netflix’s “Queer Eye.”
An insider told PEOPLE, Karamo’s “mom was on set and overheard them talking about Karamo and she let him know. It wasn’t meant to be gossiping or bullying but it caused a break in his relationship with Antoni, Tan and Jonathan.”
Karamo, 45, unfollowed all of his cast members except Bobby Berk on social media.
In a statement to Gayle King, Karamo 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.”
In his statement, Brown cited “years” of mental and emotional “abuse” and being “bullied” by the other cast members.
Karamo also pulled out of an interview with the cast on “Today with Jenna & Sheinelle.” He addressed his absence through a video message:
“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.”
Karamo began his career on MTV’s “The Real World: Philadelphia” in 2004, and has hosted his own talk show, “Karamo.”
