If you happen to’re a house enchancment and decor lover, you’ve in all probability tuned into one among HGTV’s many actuality TV exhibits.
HGTV is a well-liked American tv channel that airs actuality exhibits associated to dwelling enchancment and design. From flipping previous, dilapidated homes to giving freely dream mansions, there is no such thing as a scarcity of thrilling dwelling and life-style leisure to binge on the channel.
Whereas the fact TV exhibits featured on HGTV aren’t as dramatic as notoriously drama-filled exhibits like The Kardashians or The Actual Housewives of Beverly Hills, they’re no stranger to their share of scandalous moments.
1. Windy Metropolis Rehab Sued
Alison Victoria, the host of Windy Metropolis Rehab, and her co-host, Donovan Eckhardt, had been sued for fraud by a Chicago couple who purchased a $1.36 million dwelling featured on the present. The couple claimed the home is riddled with leaks, poorly put in home windows, and numerous different dodgy renovations, which they weren’t conscious of till after filming completed.
Donovan left the collection shortly after, and after being confronted with a second lawsuit, he filed one among his personal in opposition to Discovery Inc. for defamation and emotional misery.
2. Love It or Record It Drama
A Vancouver couple, Norman Waine and Jeanine Almeida sued the makers of Love It Or Record It after they had been lower than impressed with their dwelling renovations. The 2 declare their common contractor was not certified for the job and left the home with defects.
Whereas the crew of the present has adamantly denied legal responsibility and says the home renovations had been all executed correctly, the couple was removed from agreeing with them. They are saying the home is now susceptible to mildew, carbon dioxide leaks, water leaks, and hearth.
3. Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack Struggle on Display screen
Have you ever ever needed to work with an ex after your relationship ended? In that case, you understand simply how awkward and uncomfortable it may be. Married actual property brokers Tarek and Christina started internet hosting Flip or Flop in 2013, and the present turned fairly successful.
After saying their break up in 2016, they continued to host the present, however not with out their share of points. The 2 allegedly obtained into an intense yelling match, the place Tarek erupted at Christina whereas on set, claiming she was a “washed-up loser.” Lower than a yr after the famed argument, they introduced they’d now not proceed the present collectively. Speak about a nasty breakup.
4. Property Brothers Bar Brawl
Jonathan Scott, one of many brothers and hosts of the hit TV present Property Brothers, obtained into an altercation with a bouncer whereas having fun with an evening out in a bar in Fargo. Images from TMZ revealed a bouncer holding Scott in a headlock, nevertheless it’s unclear as to what sparked the battle.
Simply earlier than 2 AM, Jonathan known as the police and claimed that the bouncer had assaulted him. Police later informed TMZ the bar employees denied any assault came about, regardless of the images.
5. Is Beachfront Cut price Hunt Actual or Staged?
If you happen to’ve ever questioned if among the actuality exhibits on the community are staged, you are not alone. In 2017, a realtor revealed that the producers of the TV present Beachfront Cut price Hunt contacted her to search out somebody beneath contract for a seashore home that value beneath $400,000.
The realtor had a troublesome time discovering somebody who was eligible, and since she couldn’t discover anybody, she provided herself for the place. She was filmed pretending to search for a seashore home to buy on the present, making many query whether or not all the present was staged.
6. Flip or Flop Sued Over Unpaid Wages
Flip or Flop couldn’t keep out of the headlines for lengthy, with infinite scandals rising from the present. In 2017, Jonathan Schmier filed a lawsuit in opposition to the exes and HGTV, alleging the present didn’t pay him for work as a home finder.
Schmier claimed he delivered on discovering properties for the couple to flip however that the present nonetheless owed him $12,800 for again wages and a further $25,000 fee. He claimed he hadn’t seen any of the promised cash from his fee, leaving the present in sizzling water as soon as once more.
7. Love It or Record It Sued for Damages
A North Carolina couple, Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan, filed a lawsuit claiming the manufacturing firm and contractor of the collection Love It or Record It irreparably broken their dwelling. The couple invested over $140,000 to renovate their dwelling with the present however had been extraordinarily dissatisfied with the outcomes.
They not solely claimed their home had home windows painted shut and “irreparably broken” flooring however stated the merchandise used for the reno had been “low high quality.” Whereas the completed renovations usually look lovely and glamorous, not every little thing could also be because it appears on these actuality TV exhibits.
8. Fixer to Fabulous Sued
In 2021, an sad couple sued Marrs Building, who approached them with Marrs Growing to renovate their dwelling for the present Fixer to Fabulous. Tyler and Dana Craddock claimed Marrs Building breached their contract, which said no structural work can be executed to the home.
As soon as the home was revealed to the couple, they noticed balconies put in, noncompliant vents put in within the kitchen, and modified electrical, water, and plumbing circuits. The couple was left to cope with the improper work and renovations independently with none assist from Marrs Building to rectify the problems.
9. Fixer to Fabulous Sued, Once more
Dave and Jenny Marrs, the hosts of Fixer to Fabulous, discovered themselves caught up in controversy but once more. In 2023, a pair sued Fixer to Fabulous, claiming the present breached their contract. Matthew and Sarah McGrath paid over $10,000 for repairs to their Bella Vista, Arkansas dwelling, which they declare had been by no means accomplished.
Their contract said they might examine the house earlier than closing and submit an inventory of repairs to be accomplished, which the couple did. Nonetheless, in keeping with the McGraths, not a single merchandise on the checklist was carried out, leaving them to deal with the repairs on their very own.
10. Property Brothers Renovation Gone Improper
In 2021, a Las Vegas couple sued Property Brothers‘ manufacturing firm after being dissatisfied by their dwelling renovations. The couple felt “bamboozled and tricked,” as they had been led to consider the work was executed effectively for the ultimate reveal. In actuality, there have been a number of points.
The couple shared that their precise reveal took hours as a result of they always requested what was improper with totally different points of the house. Whereas this wasn’t included within the episode, the couple had many questions on the renovations that the present did not handle.
11. Fixer Higher Duo Criticized for Their Beliefs
The general public slammed Fixer Higher hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines after they filmed a dialog with a pastor who overtly opposed same-sex marriage. Their involvement with the pastor led to harsh backlash and questions on their beliefs.
In an interview with LeslyNewsMagazine, Joanna opened up about how the allegations and rumors had been hurtful and didn’t characterize them. “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,” she defined. “That’s the stuff that retains me up.”
12. Home Filled with Spouses Abruptly Cancelled
This controversial dwelling renovation present centered round a pair who helped polygamist households renovate their properties. After only one episode aired, the present obtained critical criticism and backlash from viewers and was canceled.
Whereas it is one among many HGTV exhibits canceled, it is left many questioning why the community out of the blue halted the present. “Home Filled with Spouses is one among many progressive pilot ideas that HGTV assessments repeatedly as a part of its rigorous growth and analysis course of,” a community consultant informed Newsweek.
13. Renovation Inconceivable Catastrophe
Ron Onyon and his household had their dwelling upgraded by Russell Holmes, the host of Renovation Inconceivable. Their renovation shortly turned a nightmare after racking up $150,000 in bills and much more cash to repair shoddy work, together with harmful plumbing work and unsafe balcony doorways.
Ron Onyon shared the mishaps on his TikTok to doc his disastrous expertise. Considered one of his video’s captions warned, “HGTV ruined my home. We misplaced over $150,000. It should value tens of 1000’s of {dollars} to repair the work.”
14. Chip From Fixer Higher Beneath Hearth by Former Companions
Chip Gaines’ former enterprise companions accused him of encouraging them to promote their shares in Magnolia Realty shortly after he had signed a contract with HGTV. The lawsuit alleged Chip tried to do away with his companions in order that he might solely revenue from Fixer Higher.
The plaintiffs, Richard Clark and John Lewis, requested $1 million in damages, however the decide dismissed the case in 2020. Chip hit again on the allegations, claiming he by no means obtained calls or emails from his so-called “buddies.”
15. Home Hunters Uncovered for Being Faux
It seems Beachfront Cut price Hunt isn’t the one present accused of being faux. The folks in search of properties on the HGTV present Home Hunters are sometimes fairly far into the home-buying course of.
Regardless of what the present depicts, some folks already personal their properties earlier than filming. They’re proven touring homes and selecting the house they’ve beforehand bought on the finish. Viewers, after all, do not know they already personal it!
16. Flip or Flop’s El Moussa’s Largest Flop
Tarek El Moussa had large plans for his most important flip ever. His funding agency and his spouse’s firm deliberate to purchase and demolish a big group of household bungalows within the Los Angeles Artwork District to construct a large 138-unit advanced.
Renters had been left annoyed after receiving a 120-day discover to depart their properties and being provided a cost of $12,000 per dwelling. Tarek out of the blue deserted the venture after going through backlash from livid tenants — and tenants had been nonetheless requested to depart their properties with out seeing any of the $12,000 beforehand promised.
17. Ellen DeGeneres’ Design Problem Dishonest Scandal
Ellen DeGeneres’ present, Ellen’s Design Problem, lasted simply two seasons and was no stranger to controversial scandals in that brief time. Tim McLellan, a contestant on the present, was disqualified shortly after successful the competitors for plagiarizing his concept.
Per week after successful, producers realized McLellan had stolen his desk concept from European designer Simon Schacht. Katie Stout, the contestant’s runner-up, was topped the winner and obtained the $100,000 prize. Whereas McLellan denied stealing the concept and could not fathom how one thing like this occurred, it left a nasty style for viewers.
18. Flip or Flop Las Vegas Fraud Scandal
A pair from Henderson, Nevada, filed a lawsuit in opposition to Flip or Flop Las Vegas and hosts Aubrey and Bristol Marunde, accusing them of fraud. The lawsuit alleged that Flip or Flop fraudulently offered their dwelling after renovating it, and it was less than code.
As soon as the couple bought the house, they found hazardous renovations and shoddy plumbing that might value them over $150,000 to restore. Luckily, they settled the lawsuit in 2019 for an undisclosed quantity.
19. Fixer Higher Accused of Glamorizing Unsafe Neighborhood
A pair’s dream of residing in a Magnolia-designed dwelling turned a nightmare after transferring into their home in Waco, Texas. Kelly and her husband, Ken Downs, had been chosen to seem on Fixer Higher, however the preliminary pleasure was short-lived.
Kelly stated she felt deceived by Magnolia Realty and felt they did not precisely painting the realities of the neighborhood. Since transferring in, she’s skilled harassment and intimidation from neighbors, noisy commotion from close by bars, and a drunk driver smashing into the house.
20. A Dream Residence Win Not What It Appears
Successful a lavish home within the Dream Residence sweepstakes feels like a dream come true, however not every little thing is because it seems. In accordance with Nation Dwelling, out of the 21 individuals who have gained a house, solely six lived of their dwelling for greater than a yr.
The present’s grand prize usually comes with an revenue tax invoice of $700,000, a steep worth many contestants can’t afford. Most winners go for the money prize to keep away from the taxes, upkeep, and utilities prices that include the house.
21. Curb Attraction: The Block Makeover Goes South
Getting a home makeover is a dream for a lot of householders, however for some, it finally ends up being a nightmare. Cenate and Wendy Pruitt’s dwelling obtained a $20,000 makeover on Curb Attraction: The Block, which they are saying did extra hurt than good.
In an interview with AV Membership, Cenate shared {that a} retaining wall constructed across the basement entry trapped water inside, which led to flooding. This is not the primary time householders have expressed being sad with the ultimate renovations made to their dwelling by an HGTV present.
22. Dream Residence Sinks Couple’s Funds
Don and Shelly Cruz thought they’d gained their dream dwelling within the HGTV sweepstakes however confronted a monetary nightmare as a substitute. The couple gained a Denali SUV, $250,000, and a surprising, fully-furnished mansion. Whereas it could sound like a dream, the community did not share all the hidden prices.
After going through monumental upkeep prices and electrical energy payments, the couple took out a mortgage to pay their tax invoice, which helped them keep afloat. After three years and foreclosures threats, the couple auctioned the home off in 2008.
23. Home Hunters Outed for Paying Low Wages
If you happen to’ve ever questioned how a lot cash folks obtain to seem on HGTV’s exhibits, it’s in all probability lower than you assume. Many would assume that the looks comes with a hefty paycheck, nevertheless it’s fully the other.
Kim Christenson, who appeared on Home Hunters, claims the present paid her $500 to take part. Regardless of filming for over 30 hours and the present’s $45,000 to $50,000 price range, Home Hunters gave her a disappointing paycheck for her time.
24. Fixer Higher Causes Tax Hikes
It’s known as the Fixer Higher impact, and plenty of residents and retailer house owners are sad about it. When Fixer Higher fixes properties in varied neighborhoods in Waco, Texas, it additionally raises property taxes for residents.
Property taxes have allegedly risen in Waco, Texas, after Joanna and Chip’s renovations, inflicting frustration for residents. The present has failed to indicate how their renovations influence these communities, and up to now, most residents usually are not followers of how their lives change as soon as the present finishes filming.