Antoni Porowski
Birth nameAntoni Janusz Porowski
Birth dateMarch 14, 1984 (age 42)
Birth placeMontreal, Quebec, Canada
Education
OccupationTelevision personality · actor · model · author
Years active2008–present
Websiteantoniporowski.com

Antoni Janusz Porowski (born March 14, 1984)[1] is a Canadian television personality, cook, actor, model, and author. He is the food and wine expert on the Netflix series Queer Eye (2018–2026).

Early life

Porowski was born in Montreal, Quebec, to Polish parents after they immigrated to Canada with his two older sisters. His father is a physician.[2] He grew up speaking Polish, English and French.[2] He and his parents moved to Glade Springs, West Virginia, when he was twelve years old; he resided between there and in Montreal throughout his high school years before returning to Montreal to complete his post-secondary education at Marianopolis College.[3]

After graduating from Concordia University with a bachelor's degree in psychology, Porowski moved to New York City to study acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, from which he graduated in 2011.[2][4][5][6] He taught himself to cook as a college student.[7][8]

Career

Upon moving to New York City, Porowski began auditioning for various acting roles. He has stated that his Polish last name made it difficult for him to find work, which at the time made him consider anglicizing his last name.[2] He has landed roles in movies such as Elliot Loves (2012), Daddy's Boy (2016), The Pretenders (2018), and as the lead officer in a 2014 episode of TV series The Blacklist.[9] Porowski was also featured in the 2015 short docudrama about the Vinnytsia massacre, To My Father, as Adam Bandrowski.[10] The short film was part of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner.

In the meantime, he worked in food service to cover his rent, first working as a busboy at a family-run Polish restaurant.[5] He worked his way up in the restaurant industry, working as a waiter and sommelier, eventually managing the sushi restaurant BondSt.[2][11]

In December 2017, it was announced that Porowski was hired as the food and wine expert in the Netflix revival of Queer Eye, which began airing in February 2018.[12]

In April 2018, Porowski signed a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for his first cookbook, released in spring 2019.[13] In June 2018, he announced that he would be opening The Village Den, a fast-casual restaurant in New York City's West Village.[11] Additionally, Porowski deals vintage furniture.[14] In August 2018, Porowski hosted a Liberal Party of Canada event in Montreal with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.[15][16]

On September 10, 2018, Porowski alongside co-hosts of Queer Eye received an Emmy for Outstanding Structured Reality Program.[17]

Porowski was featured in Taylor Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" music video, released on June 17, 2019.[18]

In November 2019, he was named Sexiest Reality Star by People magazine.[19]

In June 2021, Porowski announced he is part of the new Equaversity Foundation, established to organize international fundraising to support the LGBT+ community in Poland.[20]

Personal life

Porowski once lived in the same neighborhood of Brooklyn as Ted Allen, the original Queer Eye food and wine expert and current host of Food Network cooking competition Chopped. The two became friends, and for a time Porowski worked for Allen and his husband, designer Barry Rice, as their assistant, frequently cooking for the couple and helping them put together events and catering in their home.[3][9]

Porowski states that his sexuality is "a little more fluid along the spectrum" and prefers not to label himself.[21] He dated graphic artist Joey Krietemeyer for more than seven years before announcing their split in October 2018.[22] He was engaged to brand strategy director Kevin Harrington before announcing their split in 2023.[23]

In 2019, Porowski and his Queer Eye costar Jonathan Van Ness set up a joint Instagram account, and posted seemingly romantic photographs. They later clarified that it was in jest.[24]

In 2018, Antoni paid tribute to fellow television food guru and chef Anthony Bourdain via Instagram.[25]

After living in Brooklyn for years, in 2021, Porowski bought a 1,600-square-foot, three-bedroom apartment in NoHo, Manhattan for $4.4 million which he converted to a two-bedroom apartment.[26] His friend and interior designer Andrew Torrey helped transform his apartment.[27]

Bibliography

  • Antoni in the Kitchen (2019)
  • Antoni: Let's Do Dinner (2021)

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2008The DiaryEricShort film
2011The ApartmentStrangerShort film
2012Elliot LovesElliot's Father
2013WithdrawalLouisShort film
2015To My FatherAdam BandrowskiShort film
2016Daddy's BoyChristian
Blood SurfSimon
2018PretendersAntoni
Horror TimeJacob
2023Spoiler AlertSebastian

Television and web

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Blue Mountain StateLacrosse PlayerEpisode: "LAX"
2014The BlacklistLead OfficerEpisode: "Monarch Douglas Bank"
2018–2026Queer EyeHimselfSeries regular, 86 episodes
2018Nailed It!Guest Judge; Episode: "Bonus: 3,2,1...Ya Not Done!!"
Don't Watch ThisEpisode: "Antoni Psycho"
2019Lip Sync BattleSeason 5, Episode 1
Big MouthSeason 3
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenEpisode: "How Did Antoni Porowski And His 'Flipping Out' Beau Meet?"
The Daily Show with Trevor NoahEpisode: "Celebrating Food as a Love Language with Antoni in the Kitchen"
2020Martha Knows BestEpisode: "Vegetable Garden"[28]
2022QueenAntoine2 episodes[29]
Easy Bake Battle: The Home Cooking CompetitionHimselfHost
2025No Taste Like Home with Antoni PorowskiHost

Music videos

YearSongArtist
2018"This Is Me (The Reimagined Remix)"Keala Settle, Kesha, & Missy Elliott
2019"You Need to Calm Down"Taylor Swift

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2016Documentaries Without Borders International Film FestivalBest Lead ActorTo My Father
2018People's Choice AwardsReality TV Star of the YearQueer Eye
2019
2020
Primetime Emmy AwardOutstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program[30]
2021
2022
2023
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
2024
2025

See also

References

  1. ^ Chandra, Jessica (April 18, 2018). "Just 16 Beautiful Pictures Of Antoni Porowski From 'Queer Eye'". Elle. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Wertheim, Bonnie (March 6, 2018). "Antoni Porowski Can Cook". The New York Times. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Carley, Brennan (February 26, 2018). "Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski Knows You're Thinking About Him". GQ. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Keogh, Joey (October 8, 2018). "The untold truth of Antoni Porowski". TheList.com. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Hall, Gerrad (March 1, 2018). "Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski defends his credentials, T-shirt choices, and love of avocados". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  6. ^ Braxton, Conrad. "Antoni Porowski Answers 5 Burning Questions – Men's Variety". mensvariety.com. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ Sachs, Kevin (March 2, 2019). "Feast Your Eyes: Volume II – Antoni's Recipes in Queer Eye Season 3". DINE Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  8. ^ Sondé, Kari (January 22, 2018). "Queer Eye Is Back – Meet The Show's New Food Expert". Grub Street. New York Media. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  9. ^ Vargas, Alani (February 6, 2018). "Who's Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye? The Food Expert has a Personal Connection to the Original Show". Bustle. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  10. ^ ""To My Father" a docudrama about the Vinca massacre by Montreal filmmakers". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. September 23, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  11. ^ 92nd Street Y (June 2, 2018), "Netflix's Queer Eye in Conversation", retrieved June 23, 2018
  12. ^ Starkey, Adam (February 9, 2018). "Netflix's Queer Eye: Who are the new Fab Five". Metro. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "Exclusive: 'Queer Eye' breakout Antoni Porowski lands cookbook deal". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  14. ^ Musiwa, Elaine (May 21, 2015). "Rich Timber and Warm Metals Transform a Brooklyn Apartment". Houzz. Retrieved March 10, 2018. Porowski is an actor, a chef and a vintage-furniture dealer
  15. ^ https://liberal.ca/justin-trudeau-joins-supporters-at-events-in-montreal/
  16. ^ https://torontolife.com/life/justin-trudeau-met-queer-eyes-antoni-porowski-internet-melted/
  17. ^ "'Queer Eye' Reboot Wins Top Reality Show Emmy". HuffPost. September 10, 2018.
  18. ^ TaylorSwiftVEVO (June 1, 2019), "Taylor Swift – You Need To Calm Down", retrieved June 17, 2019
  19. ^ "People Magazine's Readers Pick 'Queer Eye' Star Antoni Porowski as Sexiest Reality Star of 2019". EDGE Media Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  20. ^ "Equaversity Poland". equaversity.org. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  21. ^ West, Amy (April 24, 2018). "Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski says his sexuality is fluid". Pink News. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  22. ^ Hautman, Nicholas (October 25, 2018). "'Queer Eye' Star Antoni Porowski and Boyfriend Joey Krietemeyer Split After 7 Years". Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  23. ^ "Antoni Porowski and Kevin Harrington Split and End Their Engagement After 4 Years of Dating (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  24. ^ Law, Angela (July 5, 2019). "Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness' Joke Couple Instagram Account Just Won the Internet. He is currently dating Kevin Harrington.". Popsugar.co.uk. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  25. ^ Crispim, Fabio (June 9, 2018). "Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski pays tribute to 'idol' Anthony Bourdain". Attitude
  26. ^ Morfoot, Addie (May 6, 2025). "At Home with Antoni Porowski". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  27. ^ Gassmann, Gay (September 5, 2024). "Visiting Queer Eye's Antoni Porowski at His Manhattan Apartment". Architectural Digest. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  28. ^ "HGTV,"Vegetable Garden""
  29. ^ "Queen (TV Mini Series 2022) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  30. ^ "Antoni Porowski Emmy Bio". Retrieved July 9, 2025.