Latest news with #JasonHanna
New York Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Chip Gaines slams critics of gay couple in new Magnolia Network reality show
Love is love. Chip Gaines spoke out against the backlash to the same-sex couple featured on the new Magnolia Network reality show 'Back to the Frontier.' 'Talk, ask questions, listen.. maybe even learn,' the 50-year-old wrote on X Sunday. 'Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never.' 9 Chip and Joanna Gaines at AOL HQ in New York City in 2016. FilmMagic '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 TV personality added. 9 Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs with their sons. 2_dallas_dads/Instagram Chip's defense came after Evangelical figure Franklin Graham, the son of late pastor Billy Graham, criticized Chip and his wife Joanna, 47, for including gay married couple Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs in the cast of 'Back to the Frontier.' The series, which premiered July 10 on HBO Max and Magnolia Network, follows three modern-day families attempting to live like 19th-century pioneers. Hanna and Riggs live in Dallas, Texas and have 10-year-old twin boys. 9 The Hanna-Riggs family in 'Back to the Frontier.' Magnolia Network 9 'Back to the Frontier' premiered July 10. Magnolia Network 'I hope this isn't true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series,' Franklin tweeted last week, 'If It is true, it is very disappointing.' He continued: '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.' 9 Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs with their twin sons. 2_dallas_dads/Instagram Chip continued to stand up for the couple while replying to fan comments on X. After one user accused Chip of promoting homosexuality,' the father of three responded with a Bible verse about 'gentleness and respect.' 9 Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines attend the Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront 2022. Getty Images for Warner Bros. Discovery When that same user accused Chip of using the Bible verse 'against' him, Chip wrote back, 'Ha.. I didn't try to use it against you, I did use it against you.. it's pretty weird to have a life verse that has specific messaging and instruction that you don't even come close to applying. But it does seem like you love the attention so enjoy.' 9 Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs with their sons on 'Back to the Frontier.' Magnolia Network In a different exchange, Chip clapped back at a fan who claimed the show was a 'PR nightmare' for the couple. 'Ha.. you don't know us very well if you think PR and 'carefully crafted statements' will have anything to do with this,' he said. 9 Joanna and Chip Gaines. Hanna and Riggs also spoke out about the backlash in a statement on their Instagram Stories. 'Representation matters deeply–especially for those who are still finding the courage to live their truth,' the couple said. 'When families like ours are visible, it opens doors for others to feel safe, loved, and validated. Visibility isn't just about being seen; it's about making sure no one feels alone.' 9 Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs. 2_dallas_dads/Instagram In a July 11 interview with Queerty, Hanna noted the importance of him and his husband being featured on the show. 'This was a great, amazing opportunity to normalize same-sex couples and same-sex families,' he stated. '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. We are your neighbors and your coworkers.' Chip and Joanna rose to fame on their HGTV series 'Fixer Upper' which premiered in 2013. They launched Magnolia Network in 2022.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Chip and Joanna Gaines are defended by gay couple after conservative Christians rage at HGTV reality stars
Chip and Joanna Gaines are defended by the gay couple after critics slammed the reality stars for including them on their new show. This comes as the HGTV stars are facing backlash from conservative Christians for their 'unbiblical' casting on their new reality show. Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs, a same-sex couple, and their children are one of three families featured on the Gaines' new Magnolia Network reality series, Back to the Frontier. Following the show's premiere on July 10, the reality stars started receiving harsh criticism before the dads took to social media to defend the show. Hanna posted a screenshot of a news article with the headline, 'Conservative Christians rage at reality show for letting gay people on,' and explained why he believes families like his should be shown on TV. His partner also shared a post thanking Chip and Joanna for casting them and standing by their decision to do so — even though nearly a decade ago, it was revealed that the Fixer Upper stars attend an Evangelical church, which believes 'homosexuality is a sin.' 'Representation matters deeply — especially for those who are still finding the courage to live their truth. When families like ours are visible, it opens doors for others to feel safe, loved, and validated,' he wrote in his Instagram Story post on Monday, per People. 'Visibility isn't just about being seen; it's about making sure no one feels alone,' he added alongside emojis of a rainbow and a red heart. Riggs also shared a post in response to a headline about Chip 'clapping back at critics of the same-sex couple' on their new show and wrote: 'Thank you @chipgaines and @joannagaines for leading with love, listening and learning.' The couple are executive producers of a new Magnolia Network series called Back to the Frontier, which drops three families near the Canadian Rockies and forces them to live like it is the 1880s for eight weeks. The families have no access to modern technology, no electricity or running water, and must harvest all their own food and tend to livestock. While the show sounds like must-see TV for Chip and Joanna's target audience, some viewers have expressed outrage over the inclusion of a gay couple on the cast. Texas-based couple Jason and Joe Hanna-Riggs are married with two 10-year-old twin boys, who they welcomed via a surrogate in 2014. The couple's post comes one day after Chip expressed his support for including them in their show in a post he shared on X on Sunday. 'Talk, ask questions, listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never,' he wrote. '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.' Chip's message appeared to be a direct response to Franklin Graham, the son of Evangelical pastor Billy Graham, writing on X that it was 'disappointing' to see the Magnolia Network show featuring the same-sex couple and their kids. 'I hope this isn't true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series,' Franklin wrote on Sunday. 'If It is true, it is very disappointing ... 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.' Ed Vitagliano, who is VP of the American Family Association, insisted that the Magnolia Network should be 'expected to uphold' biblical values because the Gaines had been open about their faith in the past. 'This is sad and disappointing, because Chip and Joanna Gaines have been very influential in the evangelical community,' Vitagliano posted online. '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.' Other viewers also turned their ire directly towards Chip and Joanna, slamming the pair for including a gay couple on the show. Speaking to Queerty about their experience on the show, the Hanna-Riggs couple said that they learned throughout the process that LGBTQ homesteaders did in fact exist in the 1880s. 'Well, from the homestead perspective, it was fascinating to learn that queer homesteaders existed — like, that's how a lot of folks kind of escaped, I guess, really being ostracized in cities,' Joe said. 'They would go to the frontier as a couple. So it was a common thing back then, and it's kind of the resilience of LGBTQ+ folks then, as well as it continues to be into into modern times.'
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Two gay dads join HBO's 'Back to the Frontier,' and Bible Twitter melts down
HBO Max's new reality experiment, Back to the Frontier, just premiered, but the show has already become a culture-war flashpoint thanks to the presence of Texas husbands Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs with their 10-year-old twin sons. The series, produced by Magnolia Network's Chip and Joanna Gaines, drops three modern families into an 1880s homestead and strips away every 21st-century convenience. Over the weekend, evangelical heavyweight Franklin Graham called the casting 'very disappointing,' warning that 'promoting something God defines as sin is in itself sin.' — (@) The American Family Association, an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group, piled on, accusing the Gaineses of abandoning 'biblical values' by showcasing what it calls the 'sanctity of marriage.' — (@) Gaines, a longtime darling of Christian viewers from his HGTV Fixer Upper days, fired back in his own thread. 'Talk, ask questions, listen.. maybe even learn,' he wrote. 'Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never.' — (@) He added that it was 'a sad Sunday when 'non believers' have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian.' For Hanna and Riggs, visibility was the point. 'We're your neighbors and coworkers,' Hanna told Queerty, 'so it was an amazing opportunity to normalize same-sex couples and families.' The couple, who wed in Washington, D.C., in 2013 and spent years fighting Texas law for parental recognition, say reliving 19th-century hardships was nothing compared to the legal battles they faced back home. While detractors rage online, the inclusion has galvanized queer viewers and stoked fresh interest in the show. The dads' Instagram, @2_dallas_dads, gained thousands of followers after Thursday's premiere, and hashtags like #FrontierDads and #ChipStandsUp trended over the weekend. Beyond the backlash, Back to the Frontier offers a rare snapshot of LGBTQ+ representation in historical-style reality TV. Riggs noted that same-sex couples escaped city ostracism by homesteading together in the real 1880s—a stark reminder that queer families have always existed, even if today's critics refuse to see them. New episodes drop on Thursdays on HBO Max and Magnolia Network. Whether angry tweets help or hurt ratings, the Hanna-Riggs clan is already homesteading squarely in the national spotlight. For many viewers, that's the win that matters. This article originally appeared on Pride: Two gay dads join HBO's 'Back to the Frontier,' and Bible Twitter melts down
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Back to the Frontier' Families Reveal Why They Gave Up Electricity and Modern Comforts in Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Series (Exclusive)
'Back to the Frontier' Families Reveal Why They Gave Up Electricity and Modern Comforts in Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Series (Exclusive) originally appeared on Parade. No electricity, running water or the conveniences of technology. That's what three families signed up for in Back to the Frontier, a new series from Chip and Joanna Gaines. For eight weeks, the Lopers from Alabama, the Hanna-Riggs from Texas and the Halls from Florida lived as 1880s homesteaders—harvesting produce and raising animals—in a remote wilderness in Alberta, Canada. But why would someone (voluntarily) give up the comforts of modern living? They each had their reasons for choosing to do Magnolia Network's first social experiment, but for JasonHanna and Joe Riggs, it was an opportunity for their twin sons, Ethan and Lucas, to disconnect from their devices and take on new checking chickens for eggs. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 "In the 21st Century, our kids have it pretty easy. They don't really have a lot of chores and responsibilities, and we knew coming here that that would change. We knew that they would have to step up and start doing a lot of the things around the homestead that they wouldn't necessarily have to do," Jason told Parade during a visit to the frontier. "So I think we looked at it as, like getting off devices and trying to figure out how to navigate that, but also teaching a whole new set of responsibilities, and hoping that when we go back to the 21st Century, that that's something that they'll take with them as well." Over in another homestead, JeremeHall and his wife Lina and their three kids, Mia, Zoe and Jet, wanted to learn, grow and see what it was "like to go backwards." "This is such a drastic change from our regular life that it has brought so many lightbulb moments that were like, 'Wow. Life can be simple, but still so full of stuff,' right? You can learn how to cook. You can learn so many different things if you really focus on it, and that's what we've had the time to do here," Lina said. Related: While the "1880s struggles [are] real," Joaquin Loper's experience on the frontier was very similar to how he grew up, and he wanted his sons, Landen and Maddox, to live it themselves. "My boyshave never experienced anything like this," Joaquin shared. "This is better than the stories I try to tell them and say, 'This is how daddy grew up. Be appreciative to what you have.' But living it? Living it, I knew, would change their whole concept of the way they look at things, the way they perceive things and the way they receive things, even the way they treat people and treat themselves." Back to the Frontier was additionally the perfect opportunity for Stacey Loper and Joaquin's sons to understand why they are the way they are as parents. "I think this experience kind of drove it home for Landen and Maddox. It's that level of appreciation, that humility, the honor and respect that you have for your parents, that you have for the work that they put in, like that's what we wanted to show them," Stacey said. For Joaquin, the social experiment was a lesson that "everything that we strive for in the 21st Century is not a necessity." Away from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, a newfound appreciation for the simpler things was gained. "Just because life can be simple, it can still be very meaningful and you can find so many happy moments if you just keep it simple," Lina pointed out. When watching the show, Stacey hopesviewers see love, struggle, unity and family. "That they also see that you can navigate marriage, you can navigate family, you can navigate parenting amongst the struggle of life itself," she said, adding, "That your struggle, your trauma, your experiences don't have to be passed down to the next generation. Sit down and have a conversation with your kids, sit down, let the electronics go and just be engulfed in what you have right in front of you, that love of family that was created by the hand, the heart and the minds of the people from the 1880s." Joe, too, encourages others to put devices away and have family time. He said, "I think most people are mindful of their screen time, but it reinforced for us to really limit it, especially in the evenings, and make the time as a family to not just have our dinners together, but also game nights and other activities and having those experiences as a family is what's most important. Jason added, "Focus on the foreground and not the background." But what exactly is homesteading? Modern homesteader Melissa K. Norris explained to Parade, "The best overall generalization [of modern homesteading] is going to be looking to become more of a producer than a consumer, so that you're producing through your own hands, in your own home, etc, more things than you're just consuming and bringing in." Norris noted that a lot of the elements of modern homesteading and the homesteading the families did on the show are the same. As long as someone is teachable and enjoys learning, Norris thinks anybody can learn to homestead. The expert said, "You have to be teachable and have a learner's heart, and you absolutely have to be resilient because you're gonna face failures. There's no way you can't and so if you're someone who's like, 'Oh gosh, this was too hard,' or 'I had this setback,' and you don't have resilience or the ability to bounce back, you're not gonna make it." Back to the Frontier will stream on HBO Max and air on Magnolia Network at 8 p.m. ET with a new episode released every Thursday over the course of the show's eight-week run. Next, 'Back to the Frontier' Families Reveal Why They Gave Up Electricity and Modern Comforts in Chip and Joanna Gaines' New Series (Exclusive) first appeared on Parade on Jul 11, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
