Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness Addresses ‘Unfaithful’ Rage Allegations

Queer Eye‘s Jonathan Van Ness is addressing allegations that surfaced in March claiming they’re tough to work with.

Throughout the June 27 episode of the podcast Desk Manners, Van Ness — who’s nonbinary — recalled a second in December 2023 when the Queer Eye forged — which additionally contains Tan France, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown and former castmember Bobby Berk — first discovered that Rolling Stone was planning to run an “exposé piece” about Van Ness’ alleged habits and the continued tensions on set.

“Our complete Queer Eye household had first discovered about this text in like December,” Van Ness, 37, defined. “There’s somebody who’s gonna write an investigative takedown, like exposé piece about you that is not actually based mostly in actuality, however can actually have loads of issues taken out of context to make you look as unhealthy as attainable. So that would drop any day now. So simply so you recognize.’”

With that in thoughts, Van Ness mentioned they had been “strolling on eggshells” till the article printed.

Within the Rolling Stone story, manufacturing sources alleged that the hairstylist was difficult to work with, calling them “abusive” and saying that they had “rage points” that precipitated a rift between the Queer Eye Fab 5. The report additionally claimed that their habits led to a number of members of the group being reluctant to shoot with them. (Reps for Van Ness didn’t reply to PEOPLE’s request for remark on the time.)

The allegations got here shortly after it was confirmed that Jeremiah Brent would be changing Bobby Berk. When Berk introduced his departure, he shared that it was a “essential” choice to make, and followers later started to invest that it needed to do with Van Ness’ alleged habits. Nonetheless, a supply informed PEOPLE on the time that “Bobby’s departure is unrelated to relationships along with his castmates. The parting was amicable.”

Van Ness, for his or her half, mentioned through the Desk Manners episode that the article was “overwhelmingly unfaithful and performed in unhealthy religion.”

“I believe lots of people had been in search of a cause to hate me or in search of a cause to be like, ‘See, I all the time knew that they had been a faux c— and that is the proof,’” Van Ness mentioned. “My household was so supportive of my husband [Mark Peacock] and my staff, however I did not even get on social media [or] take a look at my cellphone for 3 weeks. And anytime I attempted to dip my toe in, I’d instantly see one thing that was so intensely hurtful.”

“I believe individuals overlook irrespective of how well-known you might be you are still an individual,” Van Ness continued, noting that the story additionally got here out round after they had been selling their new hair care line, JVN Hair. “That article got here at an extremely susceptible time, for my hair care firm, for my complete profession. It simply was actually tough.”

Regardless of the emotional toll it took, Van Ness mentioned the article precipitated them and their castmates to pause and mirror.

“I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, is it true? Like, am I actually this unhealthy individual?’” they mentioned. “It pressured me to similar to actually learn to decelerate, disengage after which actually love myself.”

Van Ness additionally acknowledged there have been moments of their profession after they had been “stressed,” however might’ve acted otherwise. “I could have been like, elbow-deep in highlights and was like, ‘No, I am unable to discuss that proper now,’” they defined. “I do know that there was occasions the place I might have been higher.”

If there was any silver lining to return from the controversy, it’s that Van Ness realized how a lot stress they’d placed on themselves to be an “skilled” and “good” all through their profession.

“I am somebody who champions self-acceptance,” they added. “However typically self-acceptance seems like having to like your self by means of extremely exhausting occasions.”

By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free every day publication to remain up-to-date on one of the best of what PEOPLE has to supply​​, from movie star information to forcing human curiosity tales.

Queer Eye could be streamed on Netflix.