Karamo Brown, who served as the culture expert on the Netflix series "Queer Eye," has shared new details about his departure from the show after 10 seasons. Speaking at ViewerCon in New Jersey, Brown recounted an incident early in the show's run where he was reprimanded by an executive for making a guest cry.

Brown stated that after a guest became emotional during an episode, a white executive allegedly confronted him in front of approximately 25 people. According to Brown, the executive threatened his job, saying, "If you make one more motherfucking person cry, you are fucking fired! You are worthless! You ain't got... don't you fucking do it! You are fucking nothing!"

Brown also recounted the executive warning him that if he made another guest cry, he would "never work in this town again." In response, Brown asserted that he would continue his approach to the show's format. "I said, 'Well, listen, I got to just do what I do.' If you think you have that much power to [not have] me work in town, then I'm not in the right business because you don't ordain my step. So... I gotta do what I do."

He continued to engage deeply with guests, resulting in further emotional reactions, which he states the show's producers then attempted to edit out. However, Brown noted that the show's initial slogan was intended to be "Turning red states pink," implying a goal of significant positive change.

Brown highlighted a perceived contradiction in the show's direction, stating that after being discouraged from eliciting emotional responses, the second season's marketing featured billboards reading, "We're not crying, you are." He observed that from season two onward, network discussions focused on increasing the emotional impact of the show, a direction he felt they had initially resisted.

"And we won Emmys off of this idea that we can get to the heart," Brown said, contrasting this with the daily private and public opposition he faced. He explained that such experiences were "breaking down" and caused him to question his own methods, despite knowing he was being authentic.

Brown also addressed his departure from "Queer Eye" earlier this year, which followed a publicized rift with his co-stars. He had previously stated in a CBS Mornings statement that he could not participate in promotional interviews to "protect [his] mental health/peace from people or a world who seek to destroy it." He later revealed to People that the falling-out stemmed partly from a conversation his castmates had about him behind his back, which his mother overheard.

In personal news, Brown recently confirmed his relationship with actor Jussie Smollett. He described the relationship as easy and filled with constant laughter and love, expressing his belief that Smollett is his "forever person" and that the relationship has the potential for marriage. The couple made their relationship public after a period of keeping it private to protect it.