Tan France Denies He Tried to Replace Bobby Berk with Jeremiah Brent onQueer Eye

Mar. 15, 2025

Jon Kopaloff/Getty, Emma McIntyre/Getty

According to aRolling Stonestory published Tuesday, three unnamed sources reportedly told the outlet that France “campaigned to replace Berk” withJeremiah Brentwith “alleged support” from castmateAntoni Porowski.

In an Instagram Reel posted Friday morning, France disputed those allegations.

“Yes I’ve heard what’s going on and I just want to address one point, real quick,” the fashion expert begins in the video. “My former colleague getting fired had nothing to do with me trying to get my friend hired. Netflix, the production companies, did a full on casting. I didn’t pop my friend up for the job.”

Brent, who’s taking over Berk’s spot as the series’ interior design guru, was, according to France, chosen because he’s “the best person for the job." The streaming service madethe announcementon Feb. 27, three months after Berkfirst announcedhe’d be exiting the show.

“This all started because of a comment on a gossip blog that just got reposted and reposted and then it’s almost become gospel,” France continues. “So from the horse’s mouth, I’m telling you that that’s not at all how it went down. And that’s all I’ll say on the matter. We need to dig deeper if you still don’t believe it, but believe me, that’s it.”

A representative for Netflix did not reply to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Friday.

Amy Sussman/Getty

While France says in his video that Berk was “fired," Berk previously said he opted not to renew his contract on his own.

In January, Berk toldVanity Fairthat when he and his costars, who also includeJonathan Van NessandKaramo Brown,finished filming season eight in New Orleans, he thought the show was wrapping up, since the seven-cycle contract they’d signed ended in September 2022.

On the last day of filming, he said, “the Fab Five and the crew, we all stood there, and we took pictures and cried. We thought we were done. Mentally and emotionally, I thought we all moved on. I know I did, and I started planning other things.”

However, due to theSAG/AFTRA strike, Netflix was looking for original content and renewedQueer Eye.

“We’d just assumed that the show wouldn’t come back if we all didn’t come back,” Berk said. “I was like, I’m not going to be having FOMO ’cause the show is not going to happen. I had become at peace with it.”

But then the show’s other four stars decided to renew their contracts.

“There were definitely emotions,” Berk said. “But each one of us had our reasons why we did what we did. I can’t be mad — for a second I was.”

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

In theVanity Fairinterview, Berk alsoadmitted to a riftwith France.

“I hope this interview will help extinguish some of the speculation,” Berk said. “I want people to know that Tan and I — we will be fine.”

While he acknowledged there was a “situation” between him and France and he’d unfollowed France on Instagram as a result, he said they’d moved past it.

“Tan and I had a moment,” Berk said. “There was a situation, and that’s between Tan and I, and it has nothing to do with the show. It was something personal that had been brewing — and nothing romantic, just to clarify that.”

“Should I have unfollowed Tan? No,” Berk continued. “Maybe I should have just muted him. But that day, I was angry, and that’s the end of it. We became like siblings — and siblings are always going to fight.”

Neilson Barnard/Getty; Joe Maher/WireImage

Berkannounced hisexit fromQueer Eyein November, with a message to the show’s fans on Instagram.

“The love that I have received from you all over the last 6 years has been absolutely surreal,” he wrote. “You have tuned in and been dedicated fans and together we were able to share the healing powers of design. I learned from you all about kindness, love and acceptance and that has changed my life for the better. The way you have embraced me and accepted me for who I am is something that l will truly carry with me for the rest of my life.”

He thanked the “die-hard fans” ofQueer Eyeandpraised the show’s “wonderful, loving, amazing, and brave” heroes before he officially confirmed he was leaving the series: “It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that season 8 will be my final season onQueer Eye. It’s not been an easy decision to be at peace with, but a necessary one. Although my journey withQueer Eyeis over, my journey with you is not. You will be seeing more of me very soon.”

Rob Kim/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

He concluded, “I love you all so so much and I’ll meet you all in Nola for one final season. #foreverthefab5”

source: people.com