Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness Responds to Harassment Allegations • Instinct Magazine

Jonathan Van Ness, a respected grooming expert from the popular Netflix series Queer Eye, commented for the first time on accusations of violence on the set.

In March, a Rolling Stone investigation placed Van Ness at the center of the controversy, alleging that they had “rage issues” that led to tensions among the Fab Five and ultimately contributed to Bobby Berk’s departure from the show. The report cited three sources who described Van Ness as emotionally “abusive” and a “monster,” painting a picture of a “toxic” work environment with a “fake boy band” dynamic. Van Ness, who uses they/them pronouns, did not respond to the allegations until recently.

On the Table Manners podcast with English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware, Van Ness disputed these claims, stating that the article was “not factual.”

“There was an article written about Queer Eye and me in March, but our entire Queer Eye family found out about it in December,” Van Ness explained. They spoke about difficult times, including the sale of their company, JVN Hair, by its parent company. “From January to March, I was walking on thin ice, wondering when this article would come out. And he finally showed up.”

Van Ness shared his experience with the public reaction: “I think a lot of people were looking for a reason to hate me or to confirm their suspicions about me.”

The intense scrutiny kept Van Ness away from social media for several weeks. “My family, husband and team were incredibly supportive, but I couldn’t stand looking at my phone. Every time I tried, I saw something painful.”

In early March, Queer Eye fashion expert Tan France addressed the situation on Instagram, denying that Berk’s departure was due to any conflict with him. France said: “My former colleague’s firing had nothing to do with me trying to hire a friend.” Berk did not comment on these claims, but maintained that leaving the show was “my decision”.

For a deeper insight into Jonathan Van Ness’ perspective, you can listen to the full interview on the Table Manners podcast.

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