Berk told PEOPLE on Sunday, he now has a good idea of who will take over his spot.
“I hear somebody – I can’t say who, because I don’t know 100% — but if it is who I think it is, I think they’re gonna be amazing,” he says.
Berk adds that he enthusiastically approves of the choice.
“I can’t say who because it’s not my place to do so, but I’ve known them for years,” he explained. “And I think they’re gonna do great.”
Berk spoke with PEOPLE at Steven Tyler’s Jam for Janie Grammys viewing party, which benefitsJanie’s Fund, a non-profit Tyler created to help girls who have experienced abuse and neglect.
Berk said he’ll “absolutely” continue watchingQueer Eye,which released its eighth season Jan. 24, and noted of the Fab Five, “They’ll always be family.”
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty
He admitted he does find it less stressful to be solo.
“It’s funny, I was walking the carpet at the Emmys and, on one hand, I missed my castmates because it was at primetime,” he says. “But on the other hand, I was like, it’s actually — because I’m always the one to rally everybody. I’m always the wrangler. I’m always the one that’s like, ‘Okay, all right, let’s keep moving.' It was kind of nice to just only worry about myself.”
Berkannounced his exitfrom the popular reboot, which premiered in 2018, with a heartfelt note to the show’s community of 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 parting ways with 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.”
He concluded, “I love you all so so much and I’ll meet you all in Nola for one final season. #foreverthefab5”
In a January interview with Vanity Fair, Berk revealed that there had beena “situation” with his costar Tan France, but that the two had resolved things amicably.
“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 did shed light on a “situation,” he said the two have moved past the issue.
“Tan and I had a moment. 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.”
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
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Netflix confirmed to PEOPLE in November thatQueer Eyeis renewed for a ninth season that will be set in Las Vegas.
source: people.com
