Deli Dan ‘had rough year’ but Queer Eye star ‘shakes it off’ Taylor Swift style Sat 13 January 2024 02:05 Helen Williams
Emily Baldwin It’s almost time again to hear the words “things just keep getting better” from Queer Eye’s intro as the show returns to Netflix for its eighth season this January. Karamo Brown, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, Johnathan Van Ness, and Bobby Berk are back to transform more Heroes’ lives. As the new season arrives, season 7’s Dan ‘Deli Dan’ Stein appears to be living his best life a year on.
Deli Dan was one of Queer Eye‘s more memorable stars. The Fab Five had their work cut out when it came to helping out the “gruff” deli owner in season 7. When the Netflix show’s experts arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana they may not have thought they’d arrive to see a businessman flipping the bird at his customers. But, that just happened to be Dan’s way. He said: “I like to think that I’m a very caring person, but please don’t tell anybody.”
Meet Queer Eye’s Deli Dan
When Queer Eye viewers are introduced to Dan Stein in season 7 episode 5, he’s described by his pal as “the friend you hate,” while one of his coworkers said they think his “grouch” demeanor is “put on.”
Dan is famous in New Orleans and at the time of filming had been running his deli for over 15 years.
Stein’s Deli was described as being a super important part of the city during the show. But, to say the Netflix star was a “workaholic” was an understatement.
He was putting in 80-hour-a-week shifts and was struggling to maintain his relationships given his hectic schedule.
View this post on Instagram
Deli Dan’s transformation
Dan’s work schedule saw him prioritizing the deli and not himself or his partner, Cara, during Queer Eye.
But, by the end of episode 5, the Hero thanked Bobby Berk for transforming his home and described the process as “healing.”
Speaking to Karamo Brown, Dan worked through his feelings and the effect his actions were having on Cara. He said: “Working in the store is my ibuprofen, and being in the store is my hot bath. I appreciate you making me aware of this.”
The episode ends with Dan showing off a brand-new look before he makes dinner for his loved ones.
Cara said she was “truly gobsmacked” by his transformation. And, during a heart-to-heart, Dan said he wanted to be “better” for his girlfriend.
View this post on Instagram
Queer Eye’s Dan now
Deli Dan isn’t giving too much away on social media when it comes to his romantic life, but his business still appears to be thriving.
Judging by Dan’s Instagram page, he’s still keeping on top of his grooming routine, looking clean-shaven in his recent snaps.
He’s clearly still keeping up the eye-catching ad campaigns for his deli, too, as one of his posts sees him posing in a Playboy bunny outfit.
Ringing in the New Year, Dan took to IG with another deli campaign – this time he replicated Taylor Swift’s 2023 Time Magazine cover.
The Queer Eye star wrote that the year had been “rough, adding: “…but we’re gonna shake it off…”
In July last year, Dan shared that he’d been a victim of a “carjacking” incident, adding that he was “OK, but a little banged up.”
