Matt Lauer’s closing the book on his life in NYC … at least for now. The fired “Today” show co-host finally unloaded his 4 bed, 4.5 bath apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side Monday, months after news broke he was selling it. Pics of his pad…
Showing posts with label Upper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Upper. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Sunday, June 24, 2018
"Fixer Upper" Stars Chip and Joanna Gaines Share Pic of New Baby Boy, Crew
Chip and Joanna Gaines are now parents of FIVE children, and just revealed the name of their newborn baby boy … along with an adorable pic next to Momma. Our baby boy, Crew Gaines, is here and we couldn’t be more in love. He made an…
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Joanna Gaines Bids Farewell to Fixer Upper
Whether Chip and Joanna Gaines quit Fixer Upper for their family or whether they quit over a horrible contract, Fixer Upper has come to an end.
Joanna is opening up on her blog and bidding the series a bittersweet farewell.
But she’s not saying goodbye to fans — because they can still keep up with the Gainses.
Writing on her blog, Joanna Gaines said farewell to the show that catapulted her family into the spotlight.
“Tonight marks the final episode of Fixer Upper — the series finale.”
That episode aired on Tuesday night.
“This season of life has been rewarding, challenging, unbelievably fast and furious and nearly everything in between.”
We have to admire that season of life line.
“Back in September when Chip and I posted the blog announcing that this season would be our last, it still seemed so far away.”
It’s been a half a year since the Gaineses announced that Fixer Upper would end after season 5.
“April felt like it was forever away, but somehow it snuck up on us.”
Time these days seems to pass at such a rapid pace, even if it still seems like food takes forever to arrive when you order it.
“Time is funny like that, the days sometimes seem long, but the weeks, months and even years fly past us when we least expect it.”
“I really loved this final Fixer Upper season because there was such a variety of styles and projects that really kept us on our toes.”
Even professionals like to be challenged sometimes.
“We did everything from an old barn out in the country to a downtown loft apartment.”
Those are about as different as it gets.
“We also got to do some pretty unique projects like my garden house, a new build for clients, our restaurant, and an ADA compliant house for two amazing boys and their family that we met through the Tim Tebow Foundation.”
They recently attended a Tim Tebow Foundation event.
“Oh, and of course tonight’s episode, where we do a renovation for a Rockstar!”
“We are grateful to all the families who joined in on this journey with us over the past five years — what an honor to be a part of their stories.”
Joanna thanks her fans … but also reminds them that the end of Fixer Upper doesn’t mean that she and Chip are just going to evaporate.
“I do want to take some time to update you on a bunch of things that are going on in our neck of the woods now that filming is over. We are so thrilled that our restaurant, Magnolia Table is finally up and running.”
Prepare to get hungry, folks.
“The whole project was a huge undertaking, and we are so happy that it is officially open! If you come visit the restaurant, some of Chip’s favorites are the Farm Eggs Benedict, tater tots, the bacon and eggs appetizer, and of course Chip’s Ham Sandwich.”
Did that make you a little more eager for your next meal? Joanna says that it had the same effect on her.
“I am currently craving the pancakes, chicken salad sandwich, lavender latte and the Gaines Bros Burger with the jalapeno drip jam. My stomach is growling as I type this!”
And speaking of food …
“We also finished my cookbook, Magnolia Table, which will be out April 24th. It’s a collection of recipes from my kitchen, our restaurant, and some of my favorites from family and friends.”
You know that she was going to plug her book projects, folks.
“Cooking is so special to me because time spent around the table with family and friends is such a gift. My hope is that this book inspires you in the kitchen and that you’ll find recipes that become tried and true favorites for your own family!”
But food isn’t her primary interest, of course.
“My passion is to help people in their own homes — you don’t have to be a designer to get it right. It’s not about rules and special formulas. I believe it starts by simply going with your gut and telling your story.”
And remember — Chip and Joanna didn’t start home design when Fixer Upper began.
“Many of you may know that we were doing construction and design years before the show came online.”
Yep. They have their own company.
“Our company Magnolia Design and Construction has been fixing up homes for over 15 years now and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon!”
If you want to see some of those, just follow her blog.
“We have some big projects in the works and we are currently renovating a few flip houses and building about 20 new homes here in town. I will be posting some pictures soon — I can’t wait for you to see all of these new designs.”
And she has some adorable news about the Gaines household.
“And now for a quick update on the home front. Chip continues to increase our pet population. He recently surprised us all with a new kitten AND a new puppy. Oh, sweet Chip…”
“For us, the end of this final season marks the beginning of a new one.”
She is of course referring to her pregnancy.
“If you would have told me that I’d end this season of the show pregnant with our fifth baby, I would’ve laughed.”
“Like the entire Fixer Upper opportunity as a whole, life has a way of surprising us.”
But she’s adapted, and has flaunted her baby bump in a little black dress.
“With our little ones getting bigger, we had this gut feeling that it was time to step back and focus on them and our businesses here in Waco, Texas.”
And she credits providence with this happy coincidence.
“And although that’s why we thought we decided to step away from the show, we now realize with this little one on the way that there was a bigger plan in place for us all along.”
“Season Five’s Behind the Design episodes will start airing next Tuesday, which will give you an in-depth look into the process and also some rooms you didn’t get to see in the original reveal.”
So, you see, Fixer Upper is ending but the Gainses really aren’t going away just yet.
“Today is really bittersweet for us. Fixer Upper is the thing that introduced our family to yours, and every Tuesday night for the past five years, we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen.”
It’s so touching how much she and Chip admire their fans.
“We’ve said it many times, but it’s worth saying again — thank you to everyone who has walked beside us on this journey.”
And she thanks both old fans and the new ones.
“Whether you watched every single show since season one or you are just now tuning in, you all have been a part of this and Chip and I will always be grateful for your support.”
Friday, January 5, 2018
"Fixer Upper" Stars Chip & Joanna Gaines" Ultrasound Reveals Potentially Serious Problem
“Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines may have reason for concern over their unborn child … and it centers around their ultrasound. Joanna posted video of the ultrasound Wednesday after the couple announced they’d soon be welcoming their…
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
"Fixer Upper" Stars Chip and Joanna Gaines Expecting Fifth Child
“Fixer Upper” stars Chip and Joanna Gaines may have called it quits on their show … but they’re certainly not slowing down in the family department. 43-year-old Chip posted the photo Tuesday comparing his belly to pregnant 39-year-old…
Thursday, November 23, 2017
"Fixer Upper" Stars Chip and Joanna Gaines Host Last Season Premiere Party
Chip and Joanna Gaines hosted their last season premiere party with over 100 of their closest friends … and, yes, that’s Chip without his trademark beautiful locks. We’ll explain. The “Fixer Upper” stars had a season 5 premiere party Tuesday…
Monday, November 6, 2017
Joanna Gaines Bids Sad Farewell to Fixer Upper
The final season of Fixer Upper is yet to begin.
And yet the final season of Fixer Upper is also over for Chip and Joanna Gaines.
The beloved HGTV stars have completed filming new episodes of their network’s highest-rated series, wrapping up the finale this past weekend.
In response to her last time showing a couple just what she and her husband did to improve their home, Joanna shared the following image and caption.
“Today was the final reveal… We definitely felt the emotion behind each of those steps leading up to the big canvas. We love you Fixer Upper. Season premiers on November 21.”
Gaines added the hashtag #savedthebestseasonforlast.
In late September, Chip and Joanna surprised fans when they announced Fixer Upper was coming to an end.
Ratings remain very strong and we’re sure HGTV executives wanted the couple to continue on as hosts… but they just needed a break.
“We would be foolish to think we can go and go and fire on all cylinders and never stop to pause,” said the parents of four at the time, adding by way of explanation:
“Our family is healthy and our marriage has honestly never been stronger…
“This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment.
“Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
It’s not as though Chip and Joanna will be receding much from the spotlight, even after Fixer Upper is no longer on the air.
They just signed a clothing line deal with Target and Chip just came out with a memoir.
Yes, removing shooting obligations enables the stars to spend more time at home with their children (Drake, 12; Ella, 11; Duke, 9; and Emmie Kay, 7) – but these are two very busy and successful people.
They will remain busy and successful for many years to come.
“We really don’t know [if this is the end of us on TV]. I feel hopeful for whatever it is,” Joanna told People Magazine a few weeks ago.
She continued:
“We have a real-life business on the ground in Waco, Texas, and we are opening a restaurant in January and February.
“There are lot of things, we just got to get on the ground and be a really big part of that as these things are kind of still going.”
We can confirm that the final season of Fixer Upper – the best one EVER, apparently – will be comprised of 19 episodes.
And we can also confirm that we’ll be watching each and every one of them.
We love you, Chip and Joanna!
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Chip and Joanna Gaines: Wait, Is THIS Why They"re Leaving Fixer Upper?
Fixer Upper will come to an end after Season 5.
This much we tragically know.
But WHY will Fixer Upper come to an end after Season 5? This question is now being debated around the Internet.
Upon announcing their decision to pull the plug on their hit HGTV home renovation show, Chip and Joanna simply said they needed a break.
The Waco, Texas-based couple has a number of business ventures outside of Fixer Upper and said in a statement that everything is moving a little too quickly at the moment.
“We would be foolish to think we can go and go and fire on all cylinders and never stop to pause,” explained everyone’s favorite reality show couple last month, adding:
“Our family is healthy and our marriage has honestly never been stronger.
“This has nothing to do with a fraudulent skincare line or anything else you’ll inevitably read. This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment.
“Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
As it turns out, Chip and Joanna were right to assume that fans would “inevitably read” reports to the contrary.
There’s one this week on The New York Post.
And it alleges the stars did not walk away from their highly-rated series simply because they were tired… but because they were angry over their contract.
The argument goes like this:
Fixer Upper is the highest-rated show on HGTV. The network, meanwhile, will soon be sold by Scripps to Discovery Communications.
And sources tell Page Six that Chip and Joanna think this deal will result in a better deal for them as well.
“Scripps talent contracts are very restrictive,” writes the aforementioned newspaper, expounding:
“The talent can’t do anything without their approval – any appearance, any publicity, any endorsement, any product – you have to ask them for permission. It is awful. And on top of that, Scripps takes a big percentage of everything you make – books, appearances, endorsements, products.
“If you make money, they take most of the money.”
It’s easy to see how this would be unappealing to a couple with an empire such as that of Chip and Joanna.
The Fixer Upper contract ends after Season 5 (which Joanna says will be awesome!), and this insider claims the couple is “using this end of their contract as a total renegotiation to get the deal they really want: more money, less work, more control.”
He adds:
“The timing of Discovery buying Scripps worked well in their favor.
“With Discovery hopefully now about to own Scripps, they are rolling the dice thinking the new owners will come running after them and give them the deal they really want.”
There would be nothing wrong with this at all if it’s true.
It’s pretty straightforward business.
A rep for HGTV, however, says the following:
“Of course, this inflammatory information is inaccurate. Chip and Joanna have already shared with their fans why they made their decision and we support them.”
And a rep for Chip and Joanna says the following:
“Chip and Jo’s decision to leave Fixer Upper is truly just based on wanting to catch their breath for a minute; to rest, refresh, and spend even more time with their family and growing businesses.
“It is not based on anything else people might read.
“They were very open and honest about their reasoning behind this decision when they first shared the announcement.”
We shall see.
It’s a cliche, but time will tell.
Chip and Joanna haven’t closed the door forever on Fixer Upper, but if you see the show back on the air pretty quickly after Season 5 ends, youl’l know who was telling the truth here.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Joanna Gaines to Fixer Upper Fans: The Best is Yet to Come!
It’s sad, but true:
Fixer Upper is coming to an end.
Following various rumors along these lines over the past few months, Chip and Joanna Gaines issued a joint statement on Monday in which they broke the hearts of HGTV viewers around the nation.
The beloved couple confirmed that the highest-rated show on the aforementioned cable network will wrap up for good after Season 5.
Because of some kind of scandal? Because they have other projects in the works? No, not really.
“This has nothing to do with a fraudulent skincare line or anything else you’ll inevitably read,” Chip and Joanna wrote, trying to get ahead of the rumor mill.
“This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment.
“Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
Fair enough.
We’ll miss Chip and Joanna a ton. But we respect that decision.
And we’re comforted by Joanna’s Instagram update, in which she assures fans that plenty of solid television awaits.
“Thank you all for watching, caring and cheering us on these past few years,” she wrote shortly after making the above announcement.
Joanna went on to add:
“We are overwhelmed by your support and your kindness. You have become a part of our story forever.
“Season 5 of Fixer Upper is scheduled to start airing in November and we really have saved the best for last!”
Chip and Joanna are located in Waco, Texas.
They have four kids and a chemistry that is nearly unmatched on the small screen; it’s been the main reason for their success over the years.
On Fixer Upper, the couple helps clients select a new home, followed by Chip leading a renovation team and then Joanna leading an interior design team to improve said new home in a myriad of ways.
It premiered in May of 2013.
The couple’s growing portfolio of successful businesses, meanwhile, includes:
- Retail compound Magnolia Market at the Silos, which draws up to 40,000 visitors every week).
- Paint, rug, wallpaper and furniture lines.
- A quarterly magazine
- A real estate company.
- A luxury vacation rental.
- A soon-to-open restaurant.
- A New York Times bestselling book, with a second, “Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff,” due out October 17.
In other words: Chip and Joanna are doing VERY well for themselves.
This is how they concluded their end-of-show-confirmation blog entry yesterday morning:
We will forever be thankful for HGTV and this opportunity of a lifetime. We are also thankful to our production company, Highnoon Entertainment and our amazing producers and crew on the ground here in Waco.
We are grateful for them and for you. Thank you for sharing life with us and for the continued support. Thank you for having our backs!
Thank you for caring about these homes and these families and the things that we care so much about.
Even that wasn’t enough, though. This was their final line:
Really, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Fixer Upper to (GASP!) End After Season 5
Chip and Jo are saying it IS so:
This beloved couple has announced it will be ending Fixer Upper after five seasons.
Following bits of speculation over the future of their show, the Gaines confirmed via their official blog today that the most popular series on HGTV is coming to an end.
“It is with both sadness and expectation that we share the news that season 5 of Fixer Upper will be our last,” Chip and Joanna said, adding:
“While we are confident that this is the right choice for us, it has for sure not been an easy one to come to terms with. Our family has grown up alongside yours, and we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen.
“How bittersweet to say goodbye to the very thing that introduced us all in the first place.”
The parents of four went on to say their time on television has been “an amazing adventure,” as they’ve poured everything they have into this program.
Fixer Upper features Chip and Joanna helping clients find a home that needs a lot of renovation.
Chip is in charge of the construction, while Joanna takes lead on the interior design.
As is the case with so many real estate-themed shows, there’s some addictive about watching this makeover process play out… but it’s been the chemistry between Chip and Joanna that has resulted in such impressive ratings.
Explained the HGTV stars as part of their announcement:
“We would be foolish to think we can go and go and fire on all cylinders and never stop to pause. Our family is healthy and our marriage has honestly never been stronger.
“This has nothing to do with a fraudulent skincare line or anything else you’ll inevitably read. This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment.
“Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses.”
The couple has run into a handful of controversies of the years.
Toward the end of 2016, for example, Chip and Joanna were unfairly implicated in a scandal that centered on their pastor seemingly pushing for gay conversion therapy.
A few months later, Chip was accused of fraud by his former business partners.
Then, just recently, a few Christians somehow gave the Gaines grief for agreeing on a deal with Target because that company has spoken out in favor of transgender rights.
Despite some of these hiccups, Fixer Upper has remained the most-watched show on HGTV.
As you can see by some of these responses, not every viewer is taking this news well:
Concludes Chip and Joanna on their blog:
“We will forever be thankful for HGTV and this opportunity of a lifetime.
“We are also thankful to our production company, Highnoon Entertainment and our amazing producers and crew on the ground here in Waco. We are grateful for them and for you. Thank you for sharing life with us and for the continued support.
“Thank you for having our backs!
“Thank you for caring about these homes and these families and the things that we care so much about.”
We’d say a few words ourselves, but we’re having some trouble keeping it together here.
Please talk amongst yourselves until we calm down.
"Fixer Upper" Stars Chip and Joanna Gaines Will End Show After 5th Season
Chip and Joanna Gaines are calling it quits — for their hit HGTV show — after 5 seasons. The “Fixer Upper” stars announced their decision to end the show’s run on their blog Tuesday, saying … “It is with both sadness and expectation that we…
Friday, September 15, 2017
Fixer Upper Hosts Align with Target, Earn Ire of Christians
By their own account, Chip Gaines and Joanna Gaines are not breaking up.
The beloved husband and wife, who are about to embark on their fifth season as co-hosts of HGTV’s Fixer Upper, shot down divorce rumors this week.
However, simply because all is well between Chip and Joanna, this doesn’t mean all is well between Chip, Joanna… and a handful of their fans.
Earlier this week, the reality stars announced that they’ve developed a home decor collection called “Hearth and Hand with Magonia” that will go on sale in Target stores across the country, beginning on November 5.
Wrote Chip as a caption to the above photo:
“Jo has poured her heart and soul into this new line, Hearth & Hand with Magnolia available at Target November 5th.
“We’re here with Bullseye at Target HQ today announcing it to all of their team members!”
Pretty exciting, right? A pretty cool next step for the home renovator and designer, right?
WRONG, according to many critics.
Because Chip and Joanna are known as evangelical Christians, and because Target allows transgender employees and customers to use restrooms and fitting rooms that best align with their gender identity, some Internet users think the couple ought to rethink this partnerships.
They’re total hypocrites, if not, argue these viewers.
“Why are u using Target?I thought youll were Christians.My friends & thousands of others r boycotting them because of their bathroom policies,” wrote one Twitter person, while others have added takes such as the following:
And here is what a couple Facebook followers wrote on the couple’s official page:
– As much as I love Chip and Joanna, not even their product will get me to shop at Target again. Sorry, I’ll look for another place to buy your product.
– Why would you sell at Target when so many wonderful shops would love to have your merchandise?
Sorry I won’t be able to buy it, haven’t set foot in there since they announced either gender can use dressing rooms and bathrooms.
The topic of Chip and Joanna’s religion has come up in the past.
They got into hot water last year after it was revealed that their pastor did not believe in gay marriage.
Neither Chip nor Joanna ever spoke on this subject themselves, not directly, but Chip did Tweet the following in response to the uproar:
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. DO EVERYTHING IN LOVE.
“U know.. even as all hell ‘appears’ to be breaking loose. All I have to do is look at my 4 precious babies sleeping, or kiss Jo good morning and at least at that moment, at my house, all is right with the world.”
In this case, the stars have once again avoided the topic of religion or faith when discussing their Target deal.
“Despite our initial insecurities about partnering with a large retailer, Target has exceeded our expectations every step of the way,” Chip said on Tuesday, concluding:
“With our friends, our family and with the people we do business with, we are serious about continually finding common ground. We are thankful to get to work side by side with the people at Target.
“We believe we are going to build something really beautiful together and that our positive impact will be far greater now than it would ever be apart.”
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Fixer Upper Couple: We Were Deceived by Magnolia Realty!
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.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
Fixer Upper: Might It Leave Waco?!?
HGTV really cannot handle any more upheaval at the moment.
Over the past several weeks, fans of this network’s programming have dealt with stories about how Chip and Joanna Gaines may be against gay marriage, along with the ongoing drama between Tarek and Christina El Moussa.
(They are clearly NOT getting back together, by the way.)
Now, however, fans of this cable network may need to deal with a pretty major change on the way when it comes to Fixer Upper.
Speaking with reporters at a KILZ Master Class and media tour of the Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco on Tuesday, Chip and Joanna admitted that relocation is possible for their family.
And, therefore, for their show as well.
“We’ve got four young babies and so the farther we get from home, it makes it almost impossible for us to figure out how to keep everything in balance or in line,” Chip told People Magazine.
Still, Chip confessed that he and Joanna are not committed to Texas for the long haul. Not necesarily.
Where might he want to move to someday in the near future?
“Mine would be Las Vegas,” Chip said, mostly as a joke. “I think the kids would really appreciate it.”
But Joanna seemed far more serious in her response.
She’s a decorator and a designer, so there’s one city that understandably has caught her eye.
“New York City. I think it would be fun,” she said at the event.
Is Joanna serious? She expounded on the possibility of uprooting her family to The Big Apple.
“It’s so funny because anytime we go to the Big City – any big city really, but New York specifically – and you see these beautiful little families and they are walking their one little baby, two max, and I’m like, What would we do with four kids?"” she wondered.
Chip went on to name the Caribbean, Mexico and somewhere in South America as potential new home towns.
So, as you can see, he and Joanna aren’t exactly on the same page when it comes to a potential move.
But it’s the contrasting personalities of these two that makes Fixer Upper such a fun show to watch.
Chip is silly. Joanna is serious. Chip is goofy. Joanna is… serious.
Both are very good at their jobs, however; Chip with renovation and Joanna with interior design.
You combine their personalities with their expertise and you get the best show on HGTV. (See list below.)
In the end, it sounds as if Chip and Joanna (and Fixer Upper) will stay put.
Maybe.
“Waco is our meet in the middle spot: half big city, half tropical,” Chip said, acknowledging discussions of a move and adding:
“We’ve been to Kansas City a lot recently and have just fallen in love with that community. Salt Lake, every time we go there it just kind of really inspires us, obviously New York City for Jo.
“There are a few cities across the country that we would possibly consider if Waco did not work out.”
Do you want to see Fixer Upper take on a change in scenery?
Or if it ain’t broke, do you not want to see it… well… fixed?
Friday, December 2, 2016
HGTV Responds to Fixer Upper Scandal, Accusations of Discrimination
HGTV has spoken out against accusations of discrimination against members of the gay, transgender and queer communities.
In no uncertain terms.
The network felt forced to issue a statement after Buzzfeed published an in-depth article this week that called out the pastor at the church attended by Chip and Joanna Gaines, the popular couple at the forefront of Fixer Upper.
The article delved into this pastor’s anti-gay marriage and anti-homosexual views.
There seems to be no doubt, based on his many quotes over the years, that Pastor Jimmy Seibert of the Antioch Community Church in Texas is against the institution of same-sex marriage.
He has also stated that he thinks nearly all homosexuals have been abused in some way and that it’s very possible to convert them into being straight.
These are controversial opinions, to be sure, but they are not positions publicly held by Chip or Joanna.
The couple has never spoken out on its religious beliefs. We have no idea what they think about these topics.
Should they really be shamed by association with their pastor?
Should viewers care what beliefs their favorite TV stars may possibly hold?
Buzzfeed has come under major fire for writing this article. By those on the far Right? Yes:
But also by those who support same-sex marriage:
An editorial in The Washington Post, linked to in the Tweet above, refers to Buzzfeed’s article as a “hit piece” and labeled it “dangerous” because it is an “elaborate,” 800-word post, entirely based on a “hypothetical question.”
Moreover, the newspaper describes the piece as a “deceitful, manipulative way to take down conservatives.”
Writes The Post in this op-ed:
It is no longer okay – indeed, it never was – to write cutesy articles shaming religious people as homophobic for simply being one of the many millions of Americans in 2016 who attend a religious congregation that does not support same-sex marriage.
So… what does BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith have to say about all this?
He claimed on Twitter that the story wasn’t about Chip and Joanna, but rather about HGTV and its company policies.
“This is a story about a big company, HGTV, refusing to say whether they ban LGBT people from a TV show,” Smith Tweeted. “They should just answer the question.”
Many LGBT couples have appeared on such programs as Property Brothers and Love It or List It, but HGTV still came out last night and issued a statement on the controversy.
“We don’t discriminate against members of the LGBT community in any of our shows,” the statement read.
“HGTV is proud to have a crystal clear, consistent record of including people from all walks of life in its series.”
It’s true. It does.
Fox News has picked up and run with this story. It even interviewed Seibert on Thursday.
“People don’t know what the Bible says anymore on issues of sexuality,” he said.. “People don’t know what God says on homosexuality or any other issue.
“I felt the need to say we are all a mess – but the fixed points were set by God – not us. We are pro-helping people in their journey to find out who God is and who He has made them to be.”
That’s great? That’s discriminatory and offensive? That’s a viewpoint on homosexuality that you may react to however you see fit.
But we’re not sure what it has to do with Chip and Joanna Gaines of why a news/celebrity gossip/entertainment site would write a feature piece on a pastor.
Fixer Upper airs on HGTV on Tuesdays at 9/8c.
Will you still tune in to it?
Friday, December 11, 2015
Gossip Girl Throwback Photo: Attention, Upper East Siders...
Michelle Trachtenberg has sent a simple, four-letter message to her 208,000 followers on Instagram.
And it goes something like this…
… XOXO!
The veteran actress threw it way back on social media yesterday, sharing a photograph of herself, Penn Badgley and Chace Crawford on the Gossip Girl set.
“#tbt One of my favorite pics behind the scenes of #gossipgirl with these two handsome gents. #trouble #georginasparks,” she captioned the picture. “#xoxo.”
As she mentions here, Trachtenberg recurred as Georgina Sparks for many seasons of the former CW smash.
It was never really clear whether Sparks was a friend or a foe to heroes such as Dan (Badgley) and Nate (Crawford), but she’s perpetually our pal for posting this image.
What can we say?
We’re Upper East Siders at heart.
Crawford, Trachtenberg, Jessica Szohr and Kelly Rutherford hung out at Elton John’s AIDS Foundation Oscars Party last year, snapping another memorable photo to document their mini reunion at the time.
“So happy to see these beautiful people (inside and out) last night. Chase, Michelle and Jessica #GG #PostOscars,” Rutherford wrote on Instagram as a caption.
Earlier this week, meanwhile, Blake Lively also went all awesome throwback on us.
She shared a picture of herself as a child with Jason Priestley and it may be the best thing we’ve ever seen in our entire lives.
SIGH. Can The CW just air a Gossip Girl reunion already or what?!?
Oh well. At least we can always watch Gossip Girl online via TV Fanatic.
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