Reality TV shows often use questionable tricks to boost their ratings or save production resources, and HGTV’s Fixer-Upper is not an exception to that rule. Viewers love Chip and Joanna and what they do to all those houses, but at the end of the day, when the cameras aren’t rolling, the Gaineses are just as flawed as the rest of us.
Let’s look at some of the behind-the-scenes controversies our beloved show and its hosts have been trying to hide from us.
1. Anti-LGBT+
Have you noticed that despite featuring a different couple each time, there have never been any gays or lesbians on the show? Many fans noticed this trend and called out the Gaineses. While they waved it off like nothing had happened, a wild quote from an interview with their pastor, Jimmy Seibert, about gay people turning straight if they try hard enough might point to the couple’s bias towards the LGBT+ movement.
2. Real or Fake?
Many fans speculated that the process of buying houses is too dramatic and sometimes too easy to be true. And wouldn’t you know it, it’s been confirmed that the real negotiations are held off-screen, so all that drama is just for show.
3. Buy Your Own House
Speaking of buying houses, don’t think for a moment that the couples featured on the show are getting it all for free. Sure, the Fixer Upper covers the renovation costs and a good chunk of the house’s value, but they do not pay for everything. You’re going to need at least $50,000, preferably more, if you want a new shiny house.
