Jonathan Van Ness breaks silence on ‘bittersweet’ Queer Eye end after cast drama

Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness has said the show’s conclusion was “bittersweet” and that they have “varying relationships” with casemates.

The 39-year-old hairstylist, podcast host and television personality was the grooming expert on Netflix’s Queer Eye. Van Ness is non-binary.

The final season of Queer Eye, an optimistic show about improving the lives of one individual per episode, was overshadowed by cast controversy. The show ran for 10 seasons, from 2018 to 2026.

Van Ness was part of the “Fab Five”, alongside Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Karamo Brown, and Bobby Berk. The latter was later replaced by Jeremiah Brent for the final two seasons.

For the rollout of the final series, Brown opted out of the press tour. His absence became headline news when he released a statement. He said he wanted to “protect” his “mental health and peace” and was “worried about being bullied” if he appeared.

This was the latest heaping of drama between castmates in an extended timeline that includes Berk’s departure, casting doubt on the true connections among the cast.

Speaking to the Press Association, Van Ness said they had mixed emotions towards the show’s conclusion. They described the conclusion as “bittersweet” and that they were looking to explore “what life has to offer.”

Speaking about their fellow casemates, Van Ness shared they have “varying relationships – some of us are closer, some of us are not so close“.

‘Bittersweet is the best way I can say it.’

“I think that’s also okay. So yeah, that’s where we are on that.”

They also shared: “That was such an incredible ride and it’s memories and experiences that I just treasure forever. Bittersweet is the best way I can say it. I’m so grateful.

“I loved making the show and it was so special in such a special time. I am also ready to experience new things and explore new things and keep growing and keep seeing what life has to offer. So I think bittersweet is the best way to say.”

Van Ness’s next endeavour is their stand-up comedy show, Hot & Healed. They are touring the UK, kicking off in London on 17 May. Van Ness will also appear in Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester, and Glasgow.

Teasing the show, Van Ness said the stand-up set is “a lot queerer and a lot raunchier” than their Queer Eye work.

Speaking about the comedy show’s themes, they explained: “It’s breaking down the last two years of my life, publicly, politically.

“I think what Hot & Healed is about is what I think we need to do as a collective to heal through the tumult of what we are surrounded in right now. In 2024, I was unfortunately featured in this $220 million pro-Trump ad campaign.

“You can imagine that that was pretty devastating for me, to be that motivating, to scare so many people to want to vote for Trump. What we’re healing from is the violence of the gender binary, from misogyny, from ageism, from fat phobia.”

They went on to remark that British crowds are “the most amazing crowds. So warm, so involved. Just very loud and fun, and it’s just really fun shows.

“I will also potentially be applying for asylum. We’ll see how this week goes.”

Queer Eye is available to stream on Netflix. Tickets for Van Ness’s Hot & Healed are available for purchase now.

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