The Tragic Truth About David Bromstad

David Bromstad made a name for himself for his infectious personality and creativity on Season One of HGTV's "Design Star." After competing against several other contestants in weekly home design challenges, the Minnesota native took home the grand prize — becoming the star of his own show on the network. After mentoring designers in subsequent seasons, he started his job as host of HGTV's "My Lottery Dream Home." The series takes lucky individuals who have just won the lottery around to different potential dream homes in search of their future digs. 

Bromstad is known for his ability to mix "styles that incorporate realism and fantasy," using his previous education as a design student at the Ringling School of Art and Design to help bring homes to life. The host has become a staple on HGTV, starring in several shows, including "Color Splash" and "Rock the Block." When he's not on HGTV, Bromstad puts his platform to good use by advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, of which he is a proud member.

While the design expert seems to have it all, his life behind the scenes hasn't always been as picture-perfect as viewers might think. He's endured several struggles throughout his life, and he's not afraid to share them with his fans. To become an HGTV superstar, Bromstad went through a lot of personal growth, from his personal life and relationships to his professional life and the public scrutiny that comes with it. We're breaking down the tragic truth about David Bromstad.

David Bromstad had a very public falling out with his former long-term partner Jeffrey Glasko, which later led to a lawsuit. Glasko and Bromstad began dating in 2004, with Glasko later becoming the project manager and COO (Chief Operating Officer) at David Bromstad LLC. The two were together for over a decade before their relationship soured and they called it quits in 2015. While the two kept their relationship low-key and never married, the pair made headlines when Glasko sued the designer shortly after their breakup. 

According to InTouch Weekly, the former Miami police officer filed a lawsuit against Bromstad for breaching a verbal nuptial-like cohabitation contract and partition of their former condo. Legal documents claim that the HGTV host left Glasko high and dry emotionally and financially after involving himself in sexual activities and drugs. "On or about 2010, [Da­vid] began using funds shared with [Jeffrey] to pay for illicit drugs and prostitutes resulting in a loss of trust and confidence," read Glasko's complaint. 

However, the Miami-Dade circuit court judge threw out the allegations and dismissed his case against Bromstad. At the time, the judge called Glasko's claims "among the most scandalous I've ever reviewed." The design star has denied all of his former boyfriend's statements, with his lawyer William Roppolo saying in a statement, "These salacious claims were made by a desperate person. The allegations are part of a lawsuit that has been dismissed in Mr. Bromstad's favor with sanctions levied against [Glasko]."

David Bromstad may be openly gay and proud, but the design expert's coming out journey was far from easy. In an interview with Passport Magazine, Bromstad revealed that admitting he was gay in the '80s was a difficult feat, and he had to hide his true identity while growing up in a traditional Christian household in Minnesota. 

The designer didn't feel comfortable in his own skin, and disclosing his sexual orientation proved impossible given how his peers viewed him at a young age. "Six hundred kids in the cafeteria made obscene gestures targeted at me," he explained. "Even the junior high principal, who wanted to be cool and probably didn't realize the meaning of what the kids were doing, joined in the ridicule." 

Eventually, Bromstad mustered up enough courage to reveal his true self in 2006 while on a design show. One of the fellow competitors asked him, "Are you gay?" to which he felt compelled to reply "Yes." He went on to share, "I came out in confidence in 2006, which means that I finally accepted myself for who I was and loved myself for who I was ... it was a struggle for me ... as it went against everything I was raised to believe." Bromstad admitted that it was a ten-year-long journey for him to completely accept and love himself for who he is. Nowadays, fully out and covered in tattoos, accepting himself is a privilege. "The dork, dweeb, nerd, the unique, those are the people who rule the world!" he exclaimed.

David Bromstad suffered another tragedy when his father was in the hospital for severe health problems in 2016. Bromstad detailed his dad's struggles in a Facebook post, admitting his father had returned to the hospital in August of that year and would remain there for several days. "His valves are freaking out and is having major fluttering, his resting heart rate was at 136 which is very high," Bromstad said, asking for prayers and well wishes as his father was being monitored for a potential seizure or heart attack. 

While the HGTV star revealed his father was less than optimistic at the time, he ended up making a full recovery. Bromstad posted an Instagram photo alongside his dear ole' dad on Father's Day in 2021, and the pair were all smiles. "To the greatest dad ever! Your amazingly kind hearted, Godly, loving and deliciously competitive!" he wrote at the time. "Thank u for teaching me to be compassionate, kind, confident and of course silly!" 

Despite Bromstad's celebrity status, the designer revealed his father is not a big fan of anything with frills. "My dad had 2 options for breakfast, fancy or greasy spoon, without hesitation he chose the hole in the wall," he wrote in his caption. "This is my dad. Unpretentious and honest. It's about the experience not the price tag." The pair's close relationship was evident in his endearing tribute, and Bromstad noted that he appreciated his humble and inspiring father.