Karamo Brown got candid about the unconventional way he discovered he was a father.

The “Queer Eye” alum recalled the dark point in his life where he battled with suicidal thoughts and depression. Finding out he had a child almost a decade later brought the light back into his life and was his true North to redefine his purpose.

Karamo Brown has been vocal about the struggles he faced in life as a single parent and in his career. He recently had a highly publicized fallout with his “Queer Eye” costars prior to the final season airing.

Karamo Brown Says He Knew He Had A Child Through Back Child Support Papers

Brown did not have the cute or cheesy experience of a pregnancy announcement, gender reveal, or hospital appointment when he found out he was a dad. His life changed forever, twenty years ago, when he was served court papers with requests for child support.

Through the documents, the actor learned that he and his high school friend, Stephanie, had fathered a son, Jason, who was nine years old at the time. He shared that he was completely unaware of Jason’s existence because he lost all contact with Stephanie.

“I had started identifying as gay at 15, but I had a girl best friend, and we decided one day to be fast at the age of 15,” he revealed to PEOPLE, adding that it had happened in 1995 when “if you didn’t have someone’s home phone number or address and they moved, you didn’t have contact.”

Brown went on with his gay life, not knowing he had a child, after losing contact with Stephanie, until he got the papers for back child support.

The Actor Just Got Off The Brink Of Taking His Life When He Found Out

Brown detailed that at the time, he was navigating through a difficult phase after being thrown into the spotlight. He was battling with depression, which later ignited the suicidal thoughts he acted upon, landing him in the hospital. “I wanted to die,” the MTV alum said of that time, in his recent interview.

Just as he got out of the hospital and got his life together with the help of his mother, Charmaine, and his best friend Tré, “these papers drop.” Brown interpreted it as “God’s timing,” stressing that if he had found out about Jason a year earlier, he would not have been in the right mental space to handle the news.

The TV host recalled that “the minute I saw him, something in me healed,” adding,  “I understood my purpose.” With Stephanie’s support, Brown got full custody of Jason within months, and looking back, he realized that his son saved his life just by his mere existence.

Now Jason is gearing up to become a father, and Brown could not be any prouder of the man he’s raised.

Karamo Brown Previously Got Candid About The Joy Of Parenting 

Back in 2021, Brown sat down for a chat with Yahoo Life, where he opened up about his personal experience as a single parent. He shared that he learned to be comfortable admitting what he does not know.

The actor became a single father of two after adopting his son’s younger stepbrother, Christian, in 2011. The “Queer Eye” alum shared that he realized the importance of listening and learning from the experiences of others.

Another important lesson that stuck with Brown was paying attention to kids and believing what they are going through. He cited the surge of anxiety and peer pressure a lot of children face, which, without a listening ear and proper guidance, could lead to damage.

Speaking further, the media personality recalled when Jason came out to him as pansexual in 2019. He said, “Because of my ignorance, my lack of education, I didn’t understand what [his] experiences were as someone who was pan.”

Thanks to Jason, the on-screen star realized there is no shame in being honest and vulnerable about what you dont know, and with the willingness to learn, you could help others.

The Reality TV Personality Was Slammed With A Sexual Harassment Complaint

The TV host recently opened up about his experience with his Fab Five costars and the “Queer Eye” crew. He alleged that the work environment was toxic with bullying and poor behavior, which affected him negatively.

Brown alleged that the original cast of the Netflix series, which included Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, and Bobby Berk, first became divided after a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him in the first few weeks of filming. 

PEOPLE reported that the actor claimed he and one of the Fab Five members, whom he declined to name publicly, had a “fun and flirty” relationship during the show’s casting phase.

When the harassment complaint was filed against him, he thought it was from the said castmate, but later found out that an anonymous third party had lodged the complaint against him.

Brown clarified that he was cleared of any wrongdoing, but that single incident drove a wedge between the costars. He also recalled an altercation with an unnamed senior leader who bluntly told him, “You are not a star. I will get rid of you tomorrow.”

These words cut deep, leaving the actor depressed. The show’s production company, ITV America, and Scout Production have, however, vehemently refuted the claims.

Karamo Brown Said He Stepped Away To Protect His Mental Health

Brown did not show up with the rest of the cast for the promotional events for the 10th and final season of his hit Netflix makeover series. He shared a statement via Gayle King on “CBS Mornings” explaining his absence.

The Blast reported that the actor’s message was that he was stepping back to practice what he has preached on the show for the past decade, “which is to focus on and to protect their mental health/peace.”

King also noted that the MTV alum’s assistant had shared that he was worried about being bullied. He also missed another TV appearance but sent an email echoing a similar sentiment. 

“Karamo has felt mentally and emotionally abused for years, and his therapist has advised him to protect himself and his peace by not attending,” the email read. His castmates noted that they fully support his decision to step away from interviews to take care of himself.