At a Glance
- Bobby Berk left Queer Eye after season 8, before the show’s announced season 10 finale
- He declined a new Netflix deal after planning other projects when he thought the series was over
- Jeremiah Brent replaced Berk as interior design expert starting in season 9
- Why it matters: Berk’s departure reshaped the Fab Five dynamic and opened new career paths for both him and the replacement host
Bobby Berk, the interior design specialist who helped launch Netflix’s Queer Eye revival in February 2018, stepped away from the series ahead of its ninth season. His exit came months before Netflix announced that the upcoming tenth season will be the last.
Contract End Spurred Exit
Berk and the original Fab Five-Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski and Tan France-had signed seven-cycle contracts that ended in September 2022 after filming in New Orleans. “We thought we were done. Mentally and emotionally, I thought we all moved on. I know I did, and I started planning other things,” Berk told Vanity Fair in January 2024.
When the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes created a content shortage, Netflix revived the show and offered new deals. Berk declined, assuming the entire cast would follow suit. “We’d just assumed that the show wouldn’t come back if we all didn’t come back,” he said. The remaining four signed at the last minute, and Netflix opted to recast rather than cancel.
No Feud, Just a Moment
Online speculation linked Berk’s departure to tension with Tan France after Berk unfollowed him on social media. Berk called the rumor “speculation” and said any friction was personal, not professional. “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,” he told Vanity Fair. A source told News Of Los Angeles the parting was “amicable” and unrelated to cast relationships.
Cast Tributes
Karamo Brown praised Berk’s “fierce dedication,” saying, “He was fiercely dedicated to making sure that every aspect of the show, the hero’s experience, and even elements outside of the show were equally cared for.” Jonathan Van Ness said he would miss Berk’s “passion, knowledge and care,” while Antoni Porowski missed “the family that the five of us made.” Tan France told News Of Los Angeles in March 2024 he was curious “to see how this dynamic is with a new cast member.”
Life After Queer Eye
Berk’s design firm was handling 45 homes simultaneously as of January 2024. He launched a line of custom model houses with Tri Pointe Homes in May 2023 and renovated the Los Angeles LGBT Center in June 2024 with Paris Hilton. His HGTV series Junk or Jackpot? premiered in December 2025, helping homeowners sell collectibles to fund renovations.
Newcomer Jeremiah Brent
Netflix announced in February 2024 that designer Jeremiah Brent would take over Berk’s role. Brent, married to designer Nate Berkus and father of two, previously starred on Nate & Jeremiah by Design and Netflix’s Say I Do. “I love an install. I love the stress. I love the pressure,” Brent told House Beautiful. He described joining the cast as reconnecting with a “part of myself that I had left behind.”
Key Takeaways
- Berk left after Netflix revived the show beyond its planned seven-cycle run
- His decision hinged on prior commitments made when he believed the series had ended
- Castmates publicly praised his dedication and expressed excitement for Brent’s arrival
- Berk continues expanding his design firm and television presence with HGTV’s Junk or Jackpot?
