The Netflix star also opened up about fans connecting to the show’s “cathartic” emotional moments.
Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot is sending viewers on an emotional journey -- making over men's lives with advice on fashion, grooming, food, culture and design, and telling their heartwarming stories in the process.
For Karamo Brown, the Fab Five’s culture expert, the outpouring of support -- including thousands of tweets about how much fans cry while watching -- that the show has received since premiering in February shows just how necessary it is.
“To have people, allow people, to have these cathartic moments has been so beautiful for me because a lot of men, especially, don't know how to cry and express themselves,” he told ET's Courtney Tezeno at the Chappaquiddick premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday. “Even when you look at, like, movies, with some of our famous celebrities, they don't really cry and bring out their tears until, like, forced. So I like the fact that we're breaking that down and telling them to have fun, but also, check in with yourself.”
Since the show’s debut, Brown says his own emotional moments have mostly consisted of tears of joy, thanks in part to the show’s warm reception and growing fan base -- which even includes some A-listers.
“You know what's been really crazy for us is, like, celebrities that have hit us up,” he admitted. “Chrissy Teigen, the other morning, woke up and said that she was in love with us… Drew Barrymore hit us up and was like, 'I'm such a big fan of Queer Eye.' I mean, these are people that I've looked up to forever, celebrities that are now like, 'I'm a fan of yours.' And so I just literally, every day, start to weep and cry, because I'm like, 'These celebrities love me!'”
Queer Eye recently got renewed for a second season, and while they haven’t started shooting yet, Brown said fans can expect more of the same emotional roller coaster, while the Fab Five -- which also includes food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, fashion expert Tan France, design expert Bobby Berk and grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness -- aim to transform lives in an even bigger way.
“We just want people to continue to have fun and continue to cry,” he said with a laugh. “We are hoping that we can branch out a little bit more, and help more people outside of what we helped the first time. So we're just really excited.”
The culture expert and activist is keeping busy in the meantime. He recently attended the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. -- in support of survivors of the shootings at Pulse Nightclub and his alma mater, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida -- and will also be receiving the HRC Visibility Award at the Human Rights Campaign’s annual HRC Houston Gala on Saturday, April 7.
“As an out and proud gay man, Karamo Brown is using his incredible talent and public visibility to raise awareness and find solutions to the unique challenges LGBTQ people face,” HRC President Chad Griffin said in a statement. “We are honored to have him marching alongside us as a vocal champion for equality, and we are proud to honor Karamo Brown with the HRC Visibility Award at the 21st Annual HRC Houston Gala.”
Queer Eye’s first season is currently streaming on Netflix. Chappaquiddick hits theaters April 6.
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