Bobby Berk has announced that he will be exiting Netflix's Queer Eye after season eight. The cohost announced his upcoming departure in an emotional Instagram post.
"To the Queer Eye Community who have become family to me," it started. "The love that I have received from you all over the last 6 years has been absolutely surreal. 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," the post continued. "Throughout these years, you, the die-hard fans of Queer Eye, have all shared so many stories with me about how the show has touched your lives and I could not be more grateful to each and every one of you for being brave enough to share your experiences."
"To all our wonderful, loving, amazing, and brave heroes there is so much I want to say, and so much gratitude I want to express to you all for letting me into your homes and hearts," Bobby said. "It’s all because of you that I’ve kept going all these years and each and every one of you have changed me for the better. I’m so very proud of all of you! Being able to help guide you to find the best version of yourselves is something I never took for granted and never will."
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"It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that season 8 will be my final season on Queer Eye. It’s not been an easy decision to be at peace with, but a necessary one. Although my journey with Queer Eye is over, my journey with you is not. You will be seeing more of me very soon."
"I love you all so so much and I’ll meet you all in Nola for one final season," the post concluded, adding the hashtag #foreverthefab5.
Bobby has hosted the show since it launched in 2018 with Antoni Porowski, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, and Tan France. Season eight is going to take place in New Orleans and is set to premiere on January 24, 2024.
Although the show has been renewed for a ninth season, which will take place in Las Vegas, Bobby doesn't intend to return. The 42-year-old author was the show's interior design expert.
The Netflix reboot has won 10 Emmy awards, even winning five years in a row from 2018 to 2022. “We appreciate the heart and dedication Bobby Berk brought to Queer Eye over eight amazing seasons. He will always be a member of the Fab Five family and we wish him the very best,” ITV Entertainment, Scout Productions, and Netflix said in a statement.
Fans have not taken the news lightly. Many people left the tear drop emoji under his post.
"Nooo! Someone's going to have some big shoes to fill," one person commented. "No one can replace you, but I get it. ❤️."
