(LOOTPRESS) – Chip and Joanna Gaines, best known for their hit home renovation series Fixer Upper, are facing backlash over their latest Magnolia Network project, Back to the Frontier, after the casting of a same-sex couple sparked criticism from some conservative viewers.
The show, which follows three families embracing 19th-century pioneer life, premiered with much anticipation—but a social media post by Chip Gaines promoting the series ignited debate when critics objected to the inclusion of a gay couple.
One of the most prominent voices against the show came from Rev. Franklin Graham, president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who publicly condemned the casting decision. In a social media statement, Graham wrote, “While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word… God’s design for marriage is between one man and one woman.”
In response, Chip Gaines took to social media to push back against the wave of criticism. “Talk, ask questions, listen… maybe even learn,” he posted on X. “Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge first, understand later—or never.”
The Gaineses, a couple who rose to national fame in 2013 through their HGTV series Fixer Upper, have built a multimedia empire rooted in their Magnolia brand. After departing the original series in 2018, the pair launched Magnolia Network in partnership with Discovery+, adding to their expanding portfolio that includes Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, Texas, a bakery, a coffee shop, a home furnishings line, best-selling books, and a quarterly magazine.
Despite the controversy, many fans continue to support the Gaineses for their authenticity and vision. In a 2021 interview, Discovery CEO David Zaslav praised the couple, saying, “TV shows impact the culture, but Chip and Jo impact people’s lives. 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.”
As the debate unfolds, Back to the Frontier remains on air, sparking conversations not only about tradition and identity—but also about the evolving landscape of faith, representation, and media in America.
