"They would fine you $100" - Queer Eye's Karamo Brown recalls his time on The Real World

Queer Eye star and Emmy award-winning television host Karamo Brown started his career on MTV's Real World in 2004 on which he appeared in 26 episodes. He also appeared on Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II, from which he was eliminated after six episodes. Karamo has since crafted a stellar career for himself as he has appeared in various movies and TV shows.

In a recent episode of the podcast Amy & TJ, hosted by Amy Robach and TJ Holmes, that aired on September 19, Karamo Brown reminisced about his time on the reality show that gave him his big breakthrough. Karamo stated that he was on the show for five months but had to leave because of the difficult living conditions that the makers of the show kept him in.

He claimed that people around him talked a lot about his departure from the show and thought that he had made a lot of money from it. Karamo revealed that he felt he had no freedom, and despite making approximately $10,000, the makers would fine him in case he went out.

"People don't know this. So like, if you left the house without telling them because you're not really free, or if you turn off your mic because you were in the restroom, they would fine you $100," stated Karamo.

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Karamo Brown doesn't believe that all reality shows have bad living conditions

Karamo Brown went on to defend other reality shows and stated that his experience on the sets of The Real World was a one-time thing. Karamo is also an avid advocate of unionizing and often pushes reality stars to do so for their own benefit. In the conversation with Amy and TJ, Karamo explained that despite his start, he believes that the producers are also trying to run a business.

Since the experience that the makers are trying to provide to the audience revolves around the cast and their daily lives, Karamo expressed that being in a union would help all the parties structurally, since, unlike scripted shows which have set working hours, reality shows run the cameras for 24 hours. If a cast member went for a bathroom break and had a private conversation, "the audience doesn't know that."

Karamo went on to share another experience from The Real World when a friend of his came to visit him and the producers didn't let them have a private conversation and threatened to fine them.

"He was my visited guest, and it was surprising because I wanna have a private moment in the bathroom," he said. "I wanna have a private moment in the shower. And they're like, 'You cannot.'"

Karamo Brown further added that the tradition of fining the cast members for such incidents has continued to this day in any reality set and the thought of a fine can be intimidating and affect the mental health of the cast members, making it an important issue to advocate.

Karamo Brown is currently hosting his own talk show, The Karamo Show, for NBC which has over 250 episodes. He joked that due to his experiences on The Real World when he was just 23, he has developed a habit of turning his mic off. However, the producers taunt him and ask him to put the mic on when he does this.

Karomo has been involved in various campaigns that support gay and LGBTQ communities. In 2015, he went on to start 6in10.org, an organization that works to combat HIV and provide mental health support and HIV education to the black LGBTQ community.

He is also the health and wellness ambassador of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Black Justice Coalition.