Queer Eye’s resident fashion expert revealed all on Jonathan Van Ness’s Getting Curious podcast.
Ever since Queer Eye was rebooted by Netflix, the world has fallen in love with its fabulous cast. We’re sure we don’t need to tell you, but for those unfamiliar with the show, the Fab Five travel around America, transforming people’s lives for the better in an emotional and uplifting manner.
Tan France is the show’s fashion expert, and he recently opened up to the show’s grooming guru, Jonathan Van Ness, about how the show has transformed his own relationship with his family.
France’s father passed away when he was 13, and France admitted that he was glad that he didn’t have to come out to him, saying: “When I came out I did feel somewhat relieved because I don’t think I’d have the life I would have now.
“‘I wouldn’t have contact with my family, I would have been disowned. I’m almost positive of that.”
However, even though his family hadn’t disowned him when he came out, they didn’t discuss his gay life. When France was getting married, no one from his family attended his wedding, none of them even asked what his husband to be’s name was.
Related: Tan France reveals why he almost didn’t sign up for Queer Eye
When Queer Eye was about to launch, France told them: “‘You’re going to see what my life is. I’m not going to stop doing this, this is the life that I’ve chosen, and you either accept this or I’m not a part of your lives.'”
Initially, his family didn’t want to watch the show, as they thought that France was “going around the country and encouraging people to be homosexual.”
However, when they did watch the show, their reaction was overwhelmingly positive. “When they finally watched the show, they said ‘Oh my gosh it’s so much better than we ever expected,'” France said.
“‘You made us so proud. You’re just who you are'”
He then added: “‘I think their worry was that I was going to be someone else or different in my personal life.
“They saw me doing what I do, but also as the exact same person they’ve known their entire lives.”
And after his family watched the show, his relationship with them transformed. “Every time we Skype now, they ask about Robin [his husband],” France said.
“For 10 years, they’ve literally never said his name. It’s a very strange process.”
Related: Queer Eye’s Tan France says he sometimes hides his sexuality when travelling abroad
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