Karamo Brown on Co-Parenting, Talk Show Viral Moments and the Importance of Representation

Twenty years ago, Karamo Brown made his television debut on the MTV reality series The Real World: Philadelphia.

Since then, he has acted in television shows and movies and has become the host of his own eponymous daytime talk show, Karamo. Through his show, Brown helps families work through their issues and recently kicked off its third season.

“There are a lot of things that people are just starting to enjoy. I keep myself looking good, and I keep my guests elevated and looking good. We're adding segments like Q and K, where the audience can ask me questions and get advice from me. It's really exciting because so many people say, 'I don't have the courage to be on your stage, but I do need your advice.' Now, they can be in my audience and get that advice. Wendy Williams was a big hero of mine, and I always loved how she connected with her audience,” Brown said, reflecting on being inspired by the daytime talk show legend. “So, in a sense, this is an homage to Wendy because I loved how she gave her advice,” Brown added.

Besides Williams, Brown is following in the footsteps of other acclaimed daytime talk show hosts who came before him, including Steve Wilkos, Jerry Springer, Maury Povich and Kelly Clarkson.

“What I love about those shows is... people come on there and get to be their real, authentic self,” Brown stated. However, Brown stands out among the aforementioned talk show hosts because, as a Black, gay man, he brings those demographics to his audience, giving them a voice and platform to be seen and represented. “All those men you just named, were all white, and straight and so though I respect them and love them, I have a different perspective,” Brown added.

Brown also brings his own transparency to his audience. He shared that he will have his son’s mother on the show this season to discuss their co-parenting issues.

“One thing that’s not unique about my story is that my son’s mother and I don’t see eye to eye on most things, but yet we have to still co-parent to make sure that our sons...are able to see the respect and love so that we're breaking generational trauma. This is something that, especially for me, was so important. So it's just a lot more of all of these things that are just going to keep helping people to be better,” Brown said.

In his efforts to help people improve, Brown has had several moments from his show go viral online. One clip, in particular, featured a conflict between a Black man and his father over the son's sexuality.

“The one that I was surprised that went viral is the one where I had a gay Black man on my show whose father was very homophobic, and I was getting the father off the show because he wasn't responding, and I was never going to trigger my guest,” Brown said. “As I was getting the father off the show, my guest was like, ‘cut the show, cut the show,' and that has went viral,” Brown added. 

When Brown first appeared on television 20 years ago, there wasn’t much Black LGBTQ representation in the media or on television. Over the last two decades, things have changed, and while Brown isn’t the sole representation, he exclaimed that there is still more to be done.

“There was some conversation at the beginning where I used to have to defend my feeling like, I don't even want to go through it.' I remember we used to do these panels where we toured around the world, and it was the same six of us on these goddamn panels. It was the same six, and we got [asked] the same questions, and then we get the same things. And I was like, 'I don't have any power, I don't get to cast somebody on TV. I don't get to put anybody [on TV].' I was lucky enough to get some opportunities, but I am not a representation of all. I'm so thankful that there is more, but there's not enough,” Brown stated.

Brown doesn’t take his role as a daytime talk show host for granted.

“I look at what I'm doing as such a gift because people have gotten to see me transparently through my journey up; good, bad, down. People like me then don't like me then have liked me again. I'm just like regardless of what that is, I know that God has put me in this position to continue to make sure that I share my story honestly and that I try to make sure that people who don't have representation have a little bit. I don't represent everybody, but I'm gonna try to give some representation,” Brown said.

Beyond his transparency, it is his style that makes Brown a Quintessential Gentleman.

“Well, for me, I wear an LA baseball cap, 24/7 and it makes me feel confident, makes me feel sexy,” Brown said. “I grew up in an era where a fitted cap was quintessential to me feeling my sexiness. I think a sleek hat, even with a suit, even with some jeans with a slack can always look good. I am always able to style my hats pretty well. Like for my talk show, I love a suit where I can use accouterments, such as brooches and flowers to really elevate it. I think that men's style should be played with a little bit more when it comes to accessories,” he added.

As Brown moves through the new season of his show, we can expect the same elements as in previous seasons, from offering help and dancing— which Brown mentioned are some of his favorite moments— to special celebrity guest appearances. Brown had Big Freedia as a special guest during a previous season, but he explained that he would love to have his friend Jussie Smollett on his show to share his story.