Queer Eye’s Karamo Brown reflects on being the first openly gay black man on reality TV in 2004’s Real World: ‘Representation is so important’
He may be most well-known for his role as the ‘culture and lifestyle extraordinaire’ on Netflix’s Queer Eye reboot.
But nearly 15 years before he became a streaming star, Karamo Brown made history when he was a cast member on The Real World: Philadelphia in 2004.
Brown spoke about his appearance on the MTV reality show, that made him the first openly gay man on reality TV, with Euphoria magazine released on Wednesday.
Making history: Karamo Brown spoke about his appearance on the The Real World in 2004, that made him the first openly gay man on reality TV, with Euphoria magazine released on Wednesday (pictured in 2020)
While his appearance on the Real World was historic for reality TV, at the time Brown, 39, didn’t know he was doing something never done before.
‘I thought that happened 40 million years ago,’ he said. ‘And it just shows why representation is so important because there are still so many groups that have never been seen on television.’
The Pride month cover star for Euphoria said that back then he was comfortable in his own skin.
‘I was just comfortable enough in myself then,’ Brown said. ‘And still to this day, just to be honest about who I am and just live my life freely.’
Unknown: ‘I thought that happened 40 million years ago,’ he said. ‘And it just shows why representation is so important because there are still so many groups that have never been seen on television’ (pictured on The Real World in 2004)
Proud: ‘I was just comfortable enough in myself then,’ Brown said. ‘And still to this day, just to be honest about who I am and just live my life freely’ (pictured on screen in 2004)
When the series initially aired 16 years ago he said ‘I was just fresh out of college and was like, “Go on The Real World? Yeah, sure!”‘
This year’s Pride month comes amid nationwide Black Lives Matter protests that have encouraged more acknowledgement of black members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Los Angeles also hosted an All Black Lives Matter march earlier this month.
‘What I think a lot of people don’t realize is that Pride movements are actually protest movements,’ he said.
Combining: ‘And so I actually believe that Pride is still happening right now,’ he continued. ‘It’s just being combined with the Black Lives Matter movement’ (pictured in 2020)
‘And so I actually believe that Pride is still happening right now,’ he continued. ‘It’s just being combined with the Black Lives Matter movement.’
He continued: ‘And I say that with understanding the importance of just having the Black Lives Matter movement, but in solidarity LGBT people, more than anyone, should understand what it is like to be told you’re not worthy to have your lives taken just for being who you are.’
He spoke out for people who do not feel accepted in their other communities.
‘We live in a time where a lot of people feel very privileged and feel very accepted and loved,’ he said. ‘But there are still many people who lose their lives just for being who they are, who are in the LGBT community, just like Black people.’
Soon to be: Brown has been engaged to Ian Jordan since 2018 and he spoke about his excitement to tie the knot (with Jordan in 2019)
Brown has been engaged to Ian Jordan since 2018 and he spoke about his excitement to tie the knot.
‘I’m just so ready to get married and just be like, “I’m married now,”‘ he said. ‘I don’t know if it’s something Southern in me but I want it all, I want the marriage, I want the white suit with a long tail as if it was my dress. I want all of it!’
The reality star fathered a son when he was 17-years-old, who he has had custody of since 2007, he also adopted his son’s half brother in 2010.
Star: Brown has starred in Netflix’s Queer Eye since 2018