• Pride 2024 badge

"Overwhelmingly Untrue": Three Months After That Explosive Exposé, Jonathan Van Ness Addressed The Allegations

"I think people forget no matter how famous you are, you’re still a person."

Morgan Sloss
by Morgan Sloss

BuzzFeed Staff

Hot Topic
🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Pride 2024

Jonathan Van Ness finally addressed that bombshell Rolling Stone exposé.

Jonathan Van Ness, wearing a sleeveless, flowing dress, smiles at the "Bridgerton" Netflix event
Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images

According to the article, sources who worked with the Queer Eye star accused Jonathan of being "emotionally abusive" with "rage issues." The sources also claimed that Jonathan's alleged "nightmare" behavior sparked tension between the Fab Five, including Bobby Berk, who chose not to return for an additional season.

Karamo Brown, Tan France, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, and Jonathan Van Ness holding Emmy awards at the Creative Arts Emmys. Jonathan wears a red dress with a flower crown
Frazer Harrison / Getty Images

The other members of the Fab Five include Tan France, Karamo Brown, and Antoni Porowski. Replacing Bobby in the upcoming season is interior designer Jeremiah Brent.

Over three months later, Jonathan addressed the accusations on a recent episode of the Table Manners podcast.

Jonathan Van Ness speaking into a microphone, wearing a mesh top
Stephen J. Cohen / Getty Images
Hot Topic
Let's chat about all things Pride
See our Pride Discussions

"One thing it taught me was that I had been getting so much self-esteem from social and my job," they said. "I think a lot of people were looking for a reason to hate me or looking for a reason to be like, 'See, I always knew that they were a fake cunt, and this is the proof.'"

Jonathan Van Ness in a sleeveless asymmetrical striped dress, holding a clutch, at the "365 Days" event
Roy Rochlin / Getty Images

The 37-year-old credited their family, husband, and team for being supportive during the backlash and recalled avoiding social media for three weeks. "Anytime I tried to dip my toe in, I would immediately see something that was so intensely hurtful. I think people forget no matter how famous you are, you’re still a person."

Jonathan Van Ness wears a large fuchsia skirt and is shirtless at a public event. He stands on tiled steps, surrounded by potted plants
Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Netflix

They said the article came during an "incredibly vulnerable" time for their hair care company and career. "It just was really rough."

Closeup of Jonathan Van Ness
Rich Polk / Getty Images for IMDb

"Even though I do believe that that article was overwhelmingly untrue and done in bad faith, there have obviously been times through your career when you're stressed out, or I may have been elbow-deep in highlights and was like, 'No, I can't talk about that right now!'"

Jonathan Van Ness poses on the red carpet in an extravagant white dress with a voluminous skirt at the GLAAD Media Awards
Taylor Hill / WireImage

"I know that there was times when I could have been better. But I think also being a survivor of abuse and talking about everything I've talked about, I internalized it so badly. I was like, 'Oh my god, is it true? Am I really this bad person?' It forced me to really learn how to slow down, disengage, and then really love myself. Sometimes, loving yourself just looks like feeling your feelings. I just had to be sad for a minute," they concluded.

Jonathan Van Ness poses in a sleeveless, pink dress at the SXSW event, standing against a yellow backdrop with logos
Samantha Burkardt / Getty Images folr SXSW

Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2024.

Text reads, "Pride Month 2024" in colorful graffiti-style lettering, with black and white portraits of diverse faces in the background
Zachary Ares/BuzzFeed
Hot Topic
🔥 Full coverage and conversation on Pride 2024
Comments
We see you lurking 👀
Join a Pride conversation instead
See the Discussions