Latest news with #ChipGaines
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Chip and Joanna Gaines' Magnolia Network backlash puts home renovation star in hot seat
The backlash towards Chip and Joanna Gaines' new Magnolia Network reality series "Back to the Frontier" has put a spotlight on the couple's sprawling lifestyle empire. The couple was criticized last weekend after Chip promoted the new series, which features three families living like pioneers. People flooded his post promoting the show with frustrations over a same-sex couple being cast as one of three couples on the reality series. Reverend Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called the casting decision "very disappointing." "While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God's Word," he wrote on social media. "His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin." Chip was quick to respond to the criticism, writing on X: "Talk, ask qustns [sic], listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never It's a sad sunday when 'non believers' have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian." The Gaines first gained fame more than 10 years ago when they were cast on the HGTV series "Fixer Upper" in 2013, which showed the couple revitalizing dilapidated homes through their Magnolia Homes business in Waco, Texas. After five seasons, they decided to leave the show, and then signed with Discovery + and started the Magnolia Network in 2022. Along with the network, the couple also have the five-acre Magnolia Market at the Silos, which includes the shops at the Silos, the Silos Baking Co. bakery, the Magnolia Press coffee shop, and they also own the Magnolia Table restaurant several miles away. They also own the Magnolia Journal magazine, have written a series of lifestyle books, including Joanna's "Home Body" and Chip's "No Pain, No Gaines," they have their own Magnolia Home, furniture and accessories line, and a home line created by Joanna called Hearth and Hand for Target. The couple also opened a boutique hotel, Hotel 1928, in 2023, after renovating a historic hotel in Waco with 33 rooms. The pair also offer vacation rentals in Waco, including Hillcrest Estate and Hillcrest Cottage, the original carriage house for the estate. "TV shows impact the culture, but Chip and Jo impact people's lives," Discovery CEO David Zaslav told The Hollywood Reporter in 2021. "They provide something very rare in America today: a sunshiny hopefulness that you can make things with your own two hands and your life will be better for it."
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Chip and Joanna Gaines' new show features a same-sex married couple. Some Christians are ‘disappointed'
Chip Gaines had a few select words after Samaritan's Purse founder Franklin Graham publicly criticized his and wife Joanna's new HBO Max show for casting a same-sex couple with twins among the three families who are featured. Graham, who is the son of evangelist Billy Graham, wrote Saturday on X that he found it 'very disappointing' to hear that Jason Hanna, Joe Riggs and their boys, Ethan and Lucas, were included on 'Back to the Frontier,' produced by Magnolia Network. Chip and Joanna Gaines created Magnolia and are executive producers on the show. 'I hope this isn't true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series. If It is true, it is very disappointing,' Graham wrote. 'While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God's Word. His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.' The American Family Assn. — which bills itself as a 'pro-family organization' and was formerly known as the National Federation for Decency — chimed in first, posting a statement from Vice President Ed Vitagliano saying, 'This is sad and disappointing, because Chip and Joanna Gaines have been very influential in the evangelical community. Moreover, in the past, they have stood firm on the sanctity of marriage regardless of the personal cost that has entailed. We aren't sure why the Gaines have reversed course, but we are sure of this: Back to the Frontier promotes an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and family — a view no Christian should embrace.' Chip Gaines, who with his wife belongs to the evangelical Antioch Community Church in Waco, Texas, fired off what seemed to be a reply on Sunday. 'Talk, ask qustns, listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never,' he wrote on X. 'It's a sad sunday when 'non believers' have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian.' Matt Walsh, a conservative filmmaker, political commentator and podcast host at the Daily Wire, fired back at Chip Gaines with a response that said, 'Maybe you should endeavor to understand the basic moral teachings of your own alleged religion before you give lectures to other people about their lack of understanding.' Two hours after his 'sad sunday' post, Gaines wrote that his family was off to worship, reposting a 2016 tweet in which he said, 'In times of trouble.. you'll find the gaines family at church.' Meanwhile, on her Instagram on Tuesday, Joanna Gaines was promoting all the Magnolia Network shows nominated for Daytime Emmys. Separate from the online back-and-forth, Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs have been posting about their family on their @2_dallas_dads Instagram account since the arrival of the twins in May 2014. 'When our boys were born — our twin boys were born via surrogacy in 2014 — we faced some legal challenges, and so we've always felt it it to be important that we try to be an example for same-sex couples,' Hanna told Queerty in a story published last week. 'And so we're super honored that, when they were choosing three modern day families, they did choose the same[-sex] couple as a modern-day family — because we are; we're your neighbors, and your coworkers. And so it was this amazing opportunity to [continue to] normalize same-sex couples and same-sex families.' 'Back to the Frontier' throws three families — from Alabama, Florida and Texas — into an eight-week scenario that recalls the 1880s. Living on the 'frontier,' the families have to reinforce their own shelters, raise livestock, collect food and manage their supplies. The goal by the end of the show is to gather enough resources to make it through winter. But don't worry — the families are all back in modern air-conditioning right now. 'Through this immersive experience, the families will have to reflect on their relationships and navigate the challenges that come with an 1880s lifestyle,' HBO Max said in a release. The show premiered Thursday. HBO Max did not reply immediately to The Times' request for additional comment Tuesday. Chip and Joanna Gaines were caught up in a different conflict over LGBTQ+ issues in May 2023 after Target, which carries the couple's Magnolia Home line among its household items, came under fire for carrying transgender-targeted items as part of its seasonal Pride Month selections. Some critics also hammered Target's recognition of Pride Month at all. A boycott was urged among right-wing conservatives. They also called for a comment from the couple. 'No one doubts that Chip and Joanna are good people, kind, moral, and aligned with American values,' Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy said at the time when she was subbing as host of 'Jesse Watters Primetime.' 'But if I had a line at a company and my name was on it and that brand partnered with a trans Satanist that makes tuck 'em bikinis for kids, I would feel compelled to speak up. 'Now, maybe they're raising questions internally. Of course, that's possible, but why aren't they doing so publicly?' The person whom Campos-Duffy — wife of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy — called a 'trans Satanist' is London designer Erik Carnell, who is trans and whose Abprallen line had partnered with Target until the retailer ended the relationship under pressure from the boycott. Carnell's full line included a design that said 'Satan respects pronouns.' That design was never available at Target, according to CNN. Conservative activist Benny Johnson also posted a video of himself in a Target store at the time, touring the Pride Month section, then walking what he said was '10 steps' to the Magnolia Home display. He referred to Joanna Gaines and her family sarcastically as 'the paragons of Christian entrepreneurs and family values.' 'I've been tweeting about how Christian influencers Chip & Joanna Gaines have not disavowed Target's Satanic child grooming despite the backlash,' he said. 'What I didn't know is the Gaines Section of Target is directly ACROSS from the Groomer section. Not cool.' Chip and Joanna Gaines did not speak out during that controversy.
CNN
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Chip Gaines responds to criticism about ‘Back to the Frontier' casting
Chip and Joanna Gaines are responding to backlash over the latest show in their media empire. Chip Gaines took to social media on Sunday to defend their new Magnolia Network reality series, 'Back to the Frontier.' The show drew criticism from some Christian conservatives for featuring a gay couple, Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs. 'Talk, ask [questions], listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never,' Gaines wrote on his X account. 'It's a sad sunday when 'non believers' have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian [broken heart emoji].' The post came in response to comments from Franklin Graham, the son of the legendary evangelical pastor Billy Graham. 'It is very disappointing,' Graham wrote on X of the casting. 'While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God's Word. His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.' Gaines and his wife have built off the success of their HGTV show 'Fixer Upper' to build several other businesses, such as a line of home goods. Their partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, which is owned by CNN's parent company, resulted in the launch of the Magnolia Network in 2022. The new show features three families attempting to live like homesteading pioneers in the 1880s without modern day conveniences, including electricity. Hanna told Queerty he and Riggs, who are parents of 10-year-old twins, welcomed the 'amazing opportunity to normalize same-sex couples and same-sex families.' 'I'm super honored that when they were choosing three modern-day families, they did choose a same-sex couple as a modern-day family, because we are,' said Hanna, who also shared that when he first saw the flyer advertising the forthcoming series on social media it featured a gay couple. 'We are your neighbors and your coworkers.' 'Back to the Frontier' airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on Magnolia Network and streams on HBO Max.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Joanna Gaines: It Will Be Harder to See My Daughter Go to College Than It Was With My Son
Joanna Gaines is preparing herself for letting go when Ella, her oldest daughter with husband Chip, heads off for college. Their house will become a little emptier when Ella, 18, leaves, following in the footsteps of the couple's oldest child, Drake, 20. 'Ella, our second kiddo, she's graduating this year, so we're going through that again with another kid leaving the nest and trying to stay emotionally stable,' Joanna Gaines told People. 'Do you think this is going to be harder (than with Drake)?' Chip Gaines, who joined her for the interview, asked her. 'Yes. I think there's an emotional difference,' Joanna Gaines replied. 'With Ella, we love to go to antiques shops, plant shops and go get coffee — that's our rhythm. I kind of feel like I'm losing a friend in my everyday life.' 'It feels like what's coming this summer will be a tidal wave of emotions, and I am not going to brace; I'm going to stand there and take it with him,' the Magnolia co-founder continued. Chip and Joanna Gaines, who've been married for 22 years, are also parents to sons Duke, 17, and Crew, 7, as well as daughter Emmie, 15. While the parents of five understand the emotional toll losing a child to college can take, they are also looking forward to seeing Ella make her mark on the world. 'She's excited about going somewhere and just being known for her,' Joanna Gaines said. 'She's like, 'I don't want anyone knowing that you're ... I just want to go and be myself.'' 'I'm excited for her to learn. She's about to see some stuff,' she added. 'She's going to teach us stuff.' Chip Gaines echoed the sentiment and said he is also looking forward to seeing Ella and the rest of their kids navigate through an ever-changing world. 'I feel like a grandpa learning,' he said. 'I don't feel perfectly equipped to manage some of these very interesting modern-day things that some of these kids are going through. So she's going to get thrown in the deep end, man. I'm very excited about that.' 'And in four years, the youngest of our original four (Emmie) will have graduated. What are we going to do with this chaotic, crazy life that we've built for ourselves?' he added. Joanna Gaines has also said Ella is very similar to her. 'Ella is like me,' she told People in 2019. 'I think she'll follow in my footsteps and have her hand in a lot of things. Right now she wants to cook, be a lead designer and have a donut truck.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chip & Joanna Gaines Share Unexpected Way They've Recently Strengthened Their Marriage
Chip & Joanna Gaines Share Unexpected Way They've Recently Strengthened Their Marriage originally appeared on Parade. Design experts Chip and Joanna Gaines are opening up about their marriage. During a July 2025 interview with People magazine, the couple shared they've made it a point to keep strengthening their relationship. 'What we've realized in 22 years of marriage . . . is we still feel like newbies. Anytime you unlock a new thing, and you do it together, it only grows your relationship,' said Joanna to the publication. She then revealed that she and her husband recently took dance classes as a way to continue strengthening their bond. 'I hired this couple; they came to our office and taught us how to dance," said Joanna while speaking to People. Chip then joked that he didn't find the situation all that comfortable. 'Just she and I with this couple. You talk about awkward," said Chip. Joanna also said that she believes taking the dance classes have enabled her and her husband to be more aware of each other's "insecurities" and "strengths." Chip agreed with his wife's assessment. '[When we started] we didn't know how to hold our hands," said Chip. "It's hard to make eye contact with even your best friend and wife of 22 years. I feels really strange, awkward. But then after two or three weeks, we started looking forward to those lessons. It was this sweet reminder that all of us could use refreshes and challenges in our relationships.' Joanna clarified that she doesn't believe she or Chip are great dancers. "Chip's little feet trying to keep up! And then I'm stiff as a board. We're just so bad,' quipped the Mini Reni star. Chip and Joanna, who have five children, Drake, 20, Ella, 18, Duke, 17, Emmie, 15, and Crew, 7, discussed their relationship in a November 2024 interview withTODAY with Jenna & Friends. Joanna shared how she and her husband have managed to stay successful partners in both their marriage and business. "Part of that is just that partnership and that understanding. Like Chip's strengths. What lane he stays in. My strengths. My weaknesses. What lanes I stay in. And how we approach parenting and our relationship," said Joanna. Chip & Joanna Gaines Share Unexpected Way They've Recently Strengthened Their Marriage first appeared on Parade on Jul 8, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
