By Emma Starr
Updated
After battling cancer, the reason she left the Fast N'Loud series in the first place, the Gas Monkey shop manager is living it up.
Everyone's got their own favorite Gas Monkey Garage employee, aside from the charismatic Richard Rawlings of course. Chances are, if you were a fan of the Fast N'Loud TV series (aired from 2012-2020) which featured classic car restoration jobs, you were also a fan of the Gas Monkey office manager, Christie Brimberry. As one of the few employees who could keep Rawlings in check, apart from helping grow the business right from day one, Christie's importance on the show just couldn't be overstated. We'd argue that Gas Monkey Christie is second in popularity only to the Bearded Wonder, Aaron Kaufman.
So when she left the show in 2017 citing health concerns, it did leave people with a bunch of questions as to why Christie Brimberry actually left Fast N'Loud. By this time, a reality TV star in her own right, Brimberry was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and took time off to recover, and has since been cancer-free. And while Christie Brimberry may not be a part of the Gas Monkey Garage series as it exists today, she'll always be a part of the Gas Monkey family.
Related: Richard Rawlings Reveals The Real Reason Why Fast N' Loud Got Canceled
Does Christie Brimberry Work At Gas Monkey Garage?
Today, Christie Brimberry is married to Darren Brimberry, a hairstylist who owns two salons in Texas. Muse the Salon and Craft & Company Salon are both popular and busy salons in the state. She has four children with her husband and two children from a previous marriage. Although Darren Brimberry is not active on social media, he broadcasts his hair masterpieces online on occasion.
Unlike her husband, Christie has quite a presence on social media. She has over 117,000 followers on Twitter, 345,000 followers on Instagram, and over 1.2 million followers on Facebook. She enjoys posting about her family, her career, and the latest news from her daily life. Christie Brimberry also enjoys modeling, which she also posted quite regularly about.
Related: The Real Reason Why Aaron Kaufman Left Gas Monkey Garage
Why Did All The Mechanics Leave Gas Monkey?
Unlike some of the other employees who left Gas Monkey, Christie left for health reasons, and not personal issues. In October of 2016, Christie Brimberry underwent surgery to remove a cancerous lymph node from her thyroid gland. She posted an inspirational message on her Facebook page, telling her fans and followers to ensure they get themselves checked for health and safety.
The procedure wasn't without any issues, unfortunately. Brimberry's voice box was permanently affected by life-altering surgery. Via social media, she confirmed that the nerve to her larynx was cut and she would have no voice for a long time, even up to six months. Although she had to have a tube in her throat post-surgery, she noted that she could get that removed to start the healing process. Additionally, radiation was further needed to combat cancer.
Related: Here’s Where The Cast Members Of Fast N’ Loud Are Today
Christie Brimberry Made A Full Recovery From Cancer
Brimberry had to also undergo chemotherapy as a part of her treatment before the surgery. Fortunately for fans and her, she is entirely cancer-free today. In December 2017, Brimberry confirmed via Facebook, that after a long battle, she was officially cancer-free. She had a final treatment a month prior, and underwent a 1-year bone scan. Fortunately, the test results came back negative. The Gas Monkey Garage Facebook page congratulated Christie on her journey with a heartfelt message as a response to her Facebook post.
Related: Here’s What Happened To The Midas Monkey Corvette Hot Wheels Build From Fast N’ Loud
Why Was Fast N' Loud Canceled?
Christie Brimberry departed from the show in 2017 due to her medical condition. Fast N' Loud continued to air till 2020. The show was highly popular around the world and viewers were shocked to know that the show was canceled after 16 successful seasons.
In December 2021, Richard Rawlins appeared on episode 1578 of The Joe Rogan Experience. Rawlings confirmed the cancellation of Fast N’ Loud on the podcast. Due to legal reasons, Rawlings did not elaborate on the root cause for the cancellation. However, did confirm that the contract with Discovery included Rawlings conceding all media rights. While in 2012 it may not have been a big deal for Rawlings and Gas Monkey Garage, however as social media platforms gained popularity over the last decade, Discovery owning all media rights did not please Rawlings. On June 8, 2020, the 155th episode was Fast N' Loud's final act.
But if you want more of Richard Rawlings and his monkies, Gas Monkey Garage now posts great automotive content on YouTube, so get you some of that.
