Queer Eye's Bobby Berk explains why he fell out with Tan France and left the show

26 January 2024, 16:33

Tan France denies getting Bobby fired from Queer Eye

By Sam Prance

Interior designer Bobby Berk has explained why he really left Queer Eye.

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Queer Eye star Bobby Berk has opened up about unfollowing Tan France on Instagram and why the co-stars have fallen out.

Ever since Netflix's Queer Eye reboot debuted back in 2018, fans have been obsessed with the Fab Five and their on and off screen friendships. As well as working alongside each other on the show, Antoni Porowski, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown and Tan France often appear on each other's social media feeds hanging out and supporting each other.

However, Bobby recently quit the reality show and unfollowed Tan on Instagram. Now, he is explaining his side of the story.

Tan has also responded to recent false claims about his alleged involvement with Bobby's departure from the show and has set the record straight.

Queer Eye's Bobby Berk explains why he fell out with Tan France and left the show. Picture: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images, Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images

Speaking to Vanity Fair, Bobby said that he hoped to "extinguish" the "speculation" surrounding his relationship with Tan.

Bobby said: "I want people to know that Tan and I - we will be fine." He then clarified: "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."

Bobby added: "Should I have unfollowed Tan? No. Maybe I should have just muted him. But that day, I was angry and that’s the end of it. We became like siblings - and siblings are always going to fight.”

Bobby and Tan did reunite at the Emmys though. Bobby said they "embraced" and it was the "first bandage on that wound." He added: "I will always have a very special place in my heart for him and Rob [Tan's husband] and the kids. I can foresee in six months or a year, Tan and I at each other’s house being good."

Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jonathan Van Ness pose with Emmys. Picture: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

As for Tan? In March 2024, reports emerged that suggested Tan was involved with the reason why Bobby departed the show. He has now slammed these claims and set the record the straight.

In March, a report was published on Rolling Stone detailing a whole host of drama behind the scenes on the show. Three unnamed sources claimed that Tan "campaigned to replace Berk" with new designer Jeremiah Brent with "alleged support" from castmate Antoni Porowski.

In an Instagram video, Tan shut down those claims: "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," he continued. "I didn't put my friend up or the job. They ended up getting because they were best person for the job [...] I didn't get them hired by getting rid of somebody else."

Tan explained that all of the rumours started because of a comment on a gossip blog that was taken as gospel. He has not commented further on the situation.

Why did Bobby Berk leave Queer Eye?

Despite Tan's comment suggesting Bobby was "fired" from the show, Bobby has explained his story.

As for why he left Queer Eye, Bobby revealed that they only signed on for eight seasons and he'd been led to believe that it was the end of the show. He then said: "Mentally and emotionally, I thought we all moved on. I know I did, and I started planning other things."

When he learned that season 9 was going ahead and he'd been recast, he said: "There were definitely emotions. But each one of us had our reasons why we did what we did. I can’t be mad - for a second I was."