'Queer Eye' star Tan France says he didn't get Bobby Berk 'fired' amid alleged show drama

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'Queer Eye' stars Tan France and share Bobby Berk share self-care tips for lockdown

'Queer Eye' stars Tan France and share Bobby Berk share self-care tips for lockdown

AP

"Queer Eye" star Tan France has his own sense of style, and that extends to how he handles rumors swirling around the hit Netflix show.

The Emmy-winning fashion expert took to Instagram to slam rumors surrounding the interior designer's exit from "Queer Eye" earlier this year, after a recent Rolling Stone article detailed internal struggles amid TV's "Fab Five."

France's friend Jeremiah Brent, the TV personality and husband to fellow home guru Nate Berkus, is joining the long-running "Queer Eye" reboot's ninth season following Bobby Berk's exit in the fall. Berk appeared on the show since its first season in 2018.

Brent will star on the show with France, hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness, motivational cast member Karamo Brown and Canadian cook Antoni Porowski.

"My former colleague getting fired had nothing to do with me trying to get my friend hired. Netflix and the production companies did a full-on casting. I didn't prop my friend up for the job," France said in the Instagram video Friday. "They ended up getting it because they were the best person for the job."

Bobby Berk explains leaving 'Queer Eye,' confirms drama with Tan France: 'We will be fine'

The Rolling Stone deep dive focused heavily on Van Ness' on-set behavior, including alleged "rage issues" and production members who called the star "abusive" and a "monster." It also cited 10 "Queer Eye" production members and "well-placed sources" that recounted their experiences to the entertainment outlet.

France added that he was "so happy" Brent has the job and said he thinks the home star will "be incredible."

"I didn't get them hired by getting rid of somebody else," France said, adding that the controversy started from a comment on a gossip blog that became "gospel."

Why did Bobby Berk leave 'Queer Eye?'

Berk previously addressed his experiences on the show in an interview with Vanity Fair.

In an interview published in January, Berk told the outlet that he was under the impression that the Fab Five's time together was over when their contracts expired in 2022, and he'd moved on to other endeavors when he was contacted about signing a new contract to appear on the show.

"The Fab Five and the crew, we all stood there, and we took pictures and cried. We thought we were done. Mentally and emotionally, I thought we all moved on. I know I did, and I started planning other things," Berk told VF.

Berk announced his departure from "Queer Eye" in an Instagram post in November.

"It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that season 8 will be my final season on Queer Eye. It’s not been an easy decision to be at peace with, but a necessary one. Although my journey with Queer Eye is over, my journey with you is not. You will be seeing more of me very soon," he teased in the farewell to his former job.

Berk also confirmed rumors about a conflict that arose with him and France in the Vanity Fair piece.

"Tan and I had a moment. There was a situation, and that's between Tan and I, and it has nothing to do with the show. It was something personal that had been brewing − and nothing romantic, just to clarify that," Berk said.

Who is Jeremiah Brent? Meet the Netflix newbie joining 'Queer Eye'

Berk's replacement already has a home in the interior design space. He is the founder of Jeremiah Brent Design and the lifestyle brand Atrio. He previously hosted "Home Made Simple" on the Oprah Winfrey Network and "Say I Do" on Netflix. Brent also starred opposite Berkus starred on the HGTV docuseries "The Nate & Jeremiah Home Project."

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, James Powel