A couple that appeared on Season 3 of Fixer Upper has lashed out at Chip Gaines, Joanna Gaines and the real estate company they run.
Last Saturday morning, Waco, Texas residents Ken and Kelly Downs made headlines in the Waco-Tribune Herald for an unfortunate reason:
A drunk driver named Allen Wayne Miller lost control of his vehicle and plowed through their house.
Neither half of the couple was hurt, according to the newspaper, but photos posted on Twitter made it clear just how much damage was done to the home they had renovated by Chip and Joanna.
See for yourself below:
While most home owners who appear on Fixer Upper are satisfied with the results of their redone residence, the Downses say they’ve experienced nothing but significant trouble since they moved into their North Waco neighborhood.
They’re not sure now if they want to repair the destroyed home or sell it.
“It’s like the Wild West here. There’s been a lot of commotion coming from the bars and the store across the street,” Kelly said in an interview with the aforementioned newspaper, adding more forcefully:
“It’s been a problem from the beginning. We’ve lived here a year and a half and we feel deceived by the city of Waco and Magnolia Realty.”
That’s a pretty major accusation.
It’s unclear just how Chip and Joanna allegedly deceiver this couple.
Those who watch Fixer Upper are aware of how the series works: the hosts take a couple around town, giving them a look at three different houses and explaining the renovations each residence could benefit from.
The couple then chooses a home and Chip gets to work renovating it, while Joanna get to work designing the interior.
Ken and Kelly Downs admit they love what their home looks like, they’ve just been bothered by the community in which they reside.
“We have been intimidated and harassed,” Kelly says. “People have complained about their taxes going up because we moved here. Store owners have complained about taxes…
“There’s a big problem here. It’s not safe. This is a Fixer Upper gone bad.”
That’s a catchy quote, but Chip and Joanna can’t exactly be held accountable for the actions of people in a neighborhood.
We doubt any sort of legal actions will result from this accident and/or this complaint. Which is a welcome change for the HGTV stars.
As reported in April, Chip is facing a lawsuit from ex-business partners who allege he committed an act of fraud when he forced them to sell him their shares in Magnolia Realty.
Back in December, meanwhile, Chip and Joanna weren’t accused of anything themselves.
But a story went viral in which their pastor in Texas made some anti-gay quotes and the HGTV hosts were caught in the crossfire, as critics wondered where they stood on this issue.
Chip called for respect amidst this scandal and the couple came out of it unscathed.
