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After nearly a decade on Netflix’s Queer Eye, Antoni Porowski has witnessed numerous emotional transformations, both on-screen and within himself. The show’s food and wine expert tells Showbiz Cheat Sheet that while he initially intended to keep his personal life private, the series taught him the power of openness and the importance of addressing topics many shy away from, including sexuality and sexual health.

Antoni Porowski on embracing the nonlinear path of his sexual identity

“When I joined the show, I remember telling the showrunners, ‘I’m not talking about my sexuality or my family. We’re just gonna make food and that’s it,'” Porowski recalls. “But then we met these heroes who opened their homes and hearts and brains and their histories and all of their wounds to you. You can’t make it a one-way street; it has to be a conversation.”

Porowski’s own journey with sexuality has been far from linear. He explains that while many of his friends knew from an early age that they were gay, his path was more fluid. “I knew that there was always a possibility that I would end up with a guy … It was something that wasn’t linear,” the 41-year-old elaborates. “I dated women, and then I was in a relationship with a guy. And then I was with women again for five or six years, and then my past few relationships have been with men.”

Culinary expert Antoni Porowski poses with Jeremiah Brent and Tan France on a red staircase
‘Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski, Jeremiah Brent, and Tan France | Instagram via @antoni

This comfort with complexity stems partly from his upbringing. Porowski comes from a family of physicians, and conversations about sexual health weren’t taboo. The Canadian TV personality says of his dad, “He’s desensitized to a lot of these things and trusts the science and still has really good bedside manner. But it wasn’t anything that was treated as precious in my household, and we talked about it. I’m privileged in that experience.”

Porowski has carried that openness into adulthood, advocating for proactive care and honest dialogue. He emphasizes the importance of speaking with medical professionals about sexual health, including HIV prevention options like PrEP. “For me, the thing that gives peace and safety is connection,” Porowski explains. “Seeing my therapist, connecting with my friends, speaking to my physician about options like PrEP, and just being aware. I think the more that we have those conversations, the less precious it becomes.”

Antoni Porowski emphasizes that we’ve come a long way in the fight against HIV

The No Taste Like Home host credits activism and scientific breakthroughs like PrEP with helping destigmatize sexual health. As Porowski has teamed up with Gilead, an American biopharma company, he’s framed sexual health as part of self-care, just like eating healthy and exercising. “Sexual health is definitely under the same umbrella for me as the importance of community, especially these days,” he says. “It’s all part of caring for yourself. Talking about it shouldn’t carry shame.”

Porowski admits that vulnerability hasn’t always come easily. “I’ve been a pathological people pleaser with my own abandonment issues,” he admits. “I was always terrified to bring up anything that made me uncomfortable because I’ve been a pathological people pleaser with my own abandonment issues.” The cookbook author says that once he realized talking about difficult things is not that scary with someone you trust, he realized he could be honest and vulnerable. “The same goes for speaking about sexual health,” he adds.

The five hosts of Queer Eye post for a photo together before the season 9 premiere
‘Queer Eye’ stars Jeremiah Brent, Jonathan Van Ness, Karamo Brown, Tan France, and Antoni Porowski | Instagram via @antoni

His reflections extend to the lessons of Queer Eye itself. While filming 10 seasons, Porowski has seen the power of storytelling and human connection via many intimate conversations with the show’s “heroes.” “Progress isn’t linear,” he notes. “Just like grief or healing, we take steps forward and back, but we’re still moving.”

Whether through therapy, friendships, or openly discussing sexual health, Porowski’s message is clear: Vulnerability is strength, and honest conversations are transformative.

To talk to your doctor about HIV prevention options, like PrEP, visit Healthysexuals.com to learn more about sexual health.

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