Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines sprung into public consciousness in 2013 with the discharge of their HGTV actuality collection Fixer Higher. The twosome, who personal a house renovation and design enterprise in Waco, Texas, made a reputation for themselves as they purchased and transformed houses on digicam.

After operating for 5 seasons, the Gaines household expanded their empire additional, bringing the collection to Magnolia Community, a sister channel to HGTV, which they oversee.

Controversy surrounding Chip, 49, and Joanna, 46, didn’t take lengthy to pile up. The pair have made headlines exterior of the inside design world, from associating with an anti-LGBTQ non secular chief to a number of lawsuits.

Scroll on for a number of the largest controversies the design couple has gotten into over time.

Could 2016

BuzzFeed reported that Chip and Joanna attend Antioch Group Church, led by Pastor Jimmy Seibert. The non secular chief allegedly espouses anti-LGBTQ beliefs and, based on the church’s web site, believes that “marriage is the uniting of 1 man and one girl in covenant dedication for a lifetime.”

Seibert claimed that BuzzFeed’s report was not true. “We aren’t solely not anti-gay, however we’re pro-helping folks of their journey to seek out out who God is and who He has made them to be,” he instructed Fox Information. “For us, our coronary heart has all the time been to like Jesus, preach the phrase of God and assist folks of their journey.”

April 2017

In accordance with court docket paperwork obtained by Us Weekly, John L. Lewis and Richard L. Clark, cofounders and former companions of Magnolia Realty, filed a go well with towards Gaines, claiming he purchased them out two days earlier than Fixer Higher premiered and paid them $2,500 every for his or her shares.

Lewis and Clark declare that the fact star didn’t inform them that HGTV would broadcast the present nationally and “that the present prominently featured the ‘Magnolia’ model identify” earlier than the sale. Six years later, the trio settled the lawsuit with an out-of-court settlement.

June 2018

Chip and Joanna settled with the Environmental Safety Company after allegedly violating a rule pertaining to guide paint security.

In accordance with the EPA, the couple broke the Renovating, Transforming and Portray Rule (RRP Rule) on Fixer Higher, which requires companies to take crucial precautions when engaged on houses constructed earlier than 1978 in an effort to reduce lead publicity.

The Gaines violated particular parts of the rule together with failure to acquire EPA certification, not assigning an authorized renovator to properties, not offering a pamphlet to owners, not posting warning indicators and disregarding the final office requirements.

They agreed to pay the E.P.A. a civil superb of $40,000 and created a video in regards to the risks of lead-based paint, The New York Occasions reported. Magnolia Properties agreed to spend $160,000 to lower lead-based paint hazards in Waco houses the place residents are at excessive dangers for publicity.

Could 2021

The duo had been accused of racism after they donated cash to a marketing campaign for Shannon Braun, Chip’s sister. Braun, who was operating for an area college board in Texas, opposes the educating of important race principle in colleges.

In a Fb put up, Braun mentioned she was an advocate of “returning the main focus of our curriculum and educating to teachers, relatively than filling curriculum with divisive Essential Race Principle.”

June 2021

Throughout the unique run of Fixer Higher, Joanna and Chip confronted criticism for by no means that includes any same-sex {couples} on the collection. The backlash grew louder in 2016 after they filmed a dialog with a pastor who overtly opposed LGBTQ rights.

“Typically I’m like, ‘Can I simply make an announcement?’” the Magnolia Desk writer mentioned, seemingly addressing the allegations in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “The accusations that get thrown at you, such as you’re a racist otherwise you don’t like folks within the LGBTQ group, that’s the stuff that actually eats my lunch — as a result of it’s so removed from who we actually are. That’s the stuff that retains me up.”

November 2023

The Houston Chronicle investigated the impression Fixer Higher has had on Waco, discovering that some residents are being pressured out due to rising costs and tax hikes following the present’s reputation.

“I have a look at the youngsters. They’d their grandmother proper there subsequent door or down the road — that’s gone. Households and buddies who’ve identified one another ceaselessly — gone,” Martie, an area, instructed the outlet. “That destruction of group simply tears at my soul. That’s completely the worst consequence.”

April 2024

Chip landed in some social media scorching water by tweeting, “Cash is boring.. everyone’s obtained cash,” in response to the potential of Scott Drew being poached from his gig as Baylor’s head basketball coach.

X customers pushed again, calling out the tweet as tone deaf. “Man I like your present and all, and I completely get joking about basketball – however this tweet just isn’t cool. Nearly all of folks on this nation fear about cash as a result of they don’t have sufficient of it,” one particular person wrote.