INTERVIEW: Meet the furry fab five from Bear World TV

Bear World Magazine, the world’s leading lifestyle publication for the global bear community, is proud to announce the launch of Bear World TV: a vibrant new video platform delivering weekly doses of news, entertainment, and culture created specifically for and by the bear community, streaming now on the Bear World Magazine's website, YouTube channel, Instagram and TikTok.

While it's bittersweet to say goodbye to Queer Eye, Netflix's longest-running unscripted series which wraps up after 10 inspiring seasons with its final makeovers in Washington, DC, there's always a silver lining. As Oscar Wilde once said, “When it rains, look for rainbows.” and here comes a new rainbow: a furry fab five are giving pride and representation!

Produced by Bear World Magazine Co-Founders Richard Jones and Robin Gray, Bear World TV expands the brand’s mission to celebrate body positivity, inclusivity, and queer joy through engaging, community-driven content. Richard said “Bear World Magazine turns 13 this September, and we wanted to do something special to mark the milestone,”

Creating a broadcast platform will not only entertain but also amplify the many voices within our vibrant, diverse community.

Step into the den with the furry fab five-Bear World TV’s bold and brilliant host's as they spill the tea in this exclusive interview for Scene.

Hey boys, can you all introduce yourself and tell us about Bear World TV?

R: I’m Ravi Roth, the Queer Travel Correspondent for Bear World TV. Our weekly series dives into every corner of the Bear world, celebrating culture, community, comedy, nightlife, and connection.

My specialty is travel. I’ve spent the last decade trekking across 44 countries with my channel @raviroundtheworld, exploring queer culture globally. Now, I get to bring that lens to one of my favorite niche audiences, the bears!

J: Hello! I’m Joe Martone, host of the What Do You Know with Joe!

I’m an LA Native and active bear for over a decade. I host, travel and entertain communities worldwide.

A: Hey there, I'm Alexander Rodriguez and I am the team's entertainment sassy bear.

As a podcaster, TV personality, and celebrity interviewer, I have been obsessed with all things entertainment. Classic Hollywood, reality TV, musical theatre, sci-fi, horror, you name it-I love it! Bear World TV comes at a perfect time, giving those from the queer and bear community a voice to share different aspects of our community, with entertainment being a big part of that world!

M: I’m Marquis The Honey Bear, a Los Angeles based comedian, who is also a bear, as the name hopefully suggests.

And Bear World TV is a collection of 5 weekly programs that show bear life, from comedy to travel to nightlife and everything in between.

H: My name is Hunter Harden. I’m a model, International GoGo dancer, and social media Influencer.

BearWorldTV is a new endeavor of 5 people giving their own personalised view of different aspects of Gay Bear and Queer Culture.

What inspired each of you to be a part of Bear World TV and how did this all even come about?! 

J: Richard (Jones) came to me with an idea and it ended up being so much bigger than I could have imagined! It’s been such a fun ride so far.

H: I’ve travelled around the world hosting and dancing at different Gay Bear events, parties and bars. Being able to share my own personal experiences and guide others to the most BEAR-licious and safe spaces seemed like a perfect fit for me. It all came together through passion, networking, and a shared vision.

M: When Richard asked, I felt fired up and ready to go. My comedy is all about being a bear, or big black gay guy if we wanna break it down. So the opportunity to produce original comedic content that explores the quirks and nuances of bearhood, queerness and pop culture felt like a gift.

R: Richard and I had been trying to collaborate for years, and when this opportunity came up, I knew it was the perfect fit. It gives me a home to do more journalistic vlogging and highlight iconic bear-friendly destinations.

A: It is an honour to join Bear World TV! As a product of Bear World Magazine, this outlet has given a loud voice to an underrepresented and undercelebrated part of the LGBTQ community for a while. I have had the privilege to host events and write for Bear World Magazine. When they called, I jumped at the chance.

Were you all friends before this?

A: I have had the opportunity to work with Ravi and Hunter before; they are fantastic! But the first time I met the full team was for our luxurioussss photo shoot at W Hollywood. It was instant chemistry. We are all so different from each other, but compliment each other's energy so well. Queer Eye? You mean Bear Eye!

H: I’ve seen or met some of them through socials and travels but I think Joe was the only one I really spent time with. But we all sure are friends now!

J: Marquis and I are sisters, we go back to the pageant scene. Hunter and I have known each other for a while too, I’ve admired that he has the grace of a gazelle and the seriousness of a goose.

R: I already knew and adored Alexander. The others I just met through this, and honestly, they’re fabulous.

M: Joe and I go way back, some would call us extremely fraternal twins. I met everyone else through Bear World TV and I love being in their company. We’re a delightful, hot bunch.

Bear World TV celebrates the bear community in all its diversity, how do you personally define what it means to be part of the bear community?

R: For me, it’s about owning your body, loving every “imperfection” as perfection. Bears love to travel, they’re wildly fun, and the community is one of the most accepting I’ve ever known.

H: To me, being part of the bear community means embracing authenticity, celebrating body positivity, and finding brotherhood in a space where kindness, confidence, and fur are all welcome.

A: The beauty of being part of the bear community is that there is no right or wrong. The bear community is a safe space for all - no matter how you identify. Furry and curvy? No problem, there is a place for you at the queer table. In today's climate, we all need to put aside our differences and come together. The bear community has been doing that since day one.

M: I think bears are beings of fortitude, big/strong in appearance, but also I think it’s equally a resilient state of mind. We take up space, we’re resilient in our embrace of community that is often considered to be counter culture, and we stand strong in knowing we are desirable as hell.

J: Being a bear is amazing! At its core, the community emphasizes being yourself and not trying to fit a mold. As long as you love every inch of your body and respect the bodies around you, you’re living that bear life.

Do any of you have a hidden talent or quirky trait that we’d never guess you have?

J: She’s classically trained. No one ever asks you to dissect Shakespeare at a gay bar but I’ve got a thesis locked and loaded for anyone willing to listen.

R: I sing and yes, I can rap too.

M: I have a screw in each hip so I am very good at sensing when it’s gonna rain. Al Roker could NEVA.

H: I'm basically talentless, but I do have a weird quirk: I'm touch-phobic. When my fingers get all pruney, I freak out - it's like nails on a chalkboard, a super shrill feeling down my spine - and I refuse to touch anything. So, if you see a picture of me in a pool, my hands will always be hovering above the water, lol.

A: I am an open book. My infamous talent is to be able to put down more than my fair share of martinis. Open bars see me coming and close up shop.

Representation matters-how does Bear World TV ensure it reflects the diversity within the bear community and the broader LGBTQ+ community?

R: Just watch our show and you’ll see. We want the audience to see themselves in us. We are trying to represent every body type, ethnicity, shape, and size. Each of us brings our own specialty, and together we deliver.

H: Bear World TV showcases diverse voices, stories, and body types from across the bear and LGBTQ+ spectrum, making sure everyone sees themselves reflected and celebrated.

A: Bear World TV has done its homework in terms of who they have picked for the debut of the network. We are all different shapes, colors, and ages, and we all have different life stories. But the reality is, we all just want to be heard and raise awareness for the queer bear community. We are diverse, but look damn good as one product!

J: We all come from very different lives. That’s the cornerstone- we’re all SO different but we share that community and ideal. It’s the only way we can really thrive- not by being a singular, uniform image but by giving something new and wonderful with everything we are.

M: The 5 of us are so damn different from each other in every sense, I think we cover a lot of ground in both physical bear diversity, and personalities/interests. Bearhood and queerness are beautiful things that bozos often love to move the goalpost for, especially when it comes to POC in the community. Speaking for only myself, being apart of BWTV is great supplemental validation that I deserve the space that I take up in the bear and LGBTQ+ communities.

Finally, what message do you hope viewers take away from Bear World TV and the stories you share?

J: Life is joy. Being a Bear is a joy. To quote Ncuti Gatwa, “joy to the world!”

A: I hope that viewers outside of the bear community can see that we are funny and talented AF. Seriously, though, I hope everyone sees that there is no membership required to be a part of or to be a fan of the bear community. We are a different shade of the queer community, but no less important and no less welcoming. There is no mystery to our clan, we are fun-loving and will share our honey with you any day!

H: I hope viewers see that the bear community and the LGBTQ+ world as a whole-is full of beauty, diversity, and love. No matter your size, shape, or style, there’s a place where you’re celebrated exactly as you are.

M: That bears are hot, funny, witty, and should be platformed more in the media, in all the silly and at times serious ways. Also that bears are hot, did I say that already?

R: For me, it’s about inspiring folks to get out there and travel. I share practical tips from finding the best flights to hacking credit cards for miles to highlighting the best bear-themed trips. Adventure is more accessible than people think. And more than that, I want viewers to find joy in our storytelling and never wait to go after what they want.

With fresh episodes dropping weekly, Bear World TV is poised to become the go-to digital destination for bears worldwide! Tune in at bearworldmag.com and follow Bear World Mag on all platforms HERE.

📸Nathan Noyes

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