Joanna Gaines found fame on "Fixer Upper."
Alongside her husband, Chip Gaines.
The two have fixed up their little reality show into a true media brand.
However, their years in the spotlight haven't passed by without controversy.
In a recent interview, Joanna Gaines got candid about some controversial allegations that
have been made against her in the past.
The pair are finally launching their network, Magnolia Network, on July 15th on Discovery+,
and it'll be an addition to their empire which includes TV shows, books, and shops.
Country Living outlines that the Gaines have gained a reputation as the people to call
if you need to do some serious renovations on your house.
However, in their cover interview with The Hollywood Reporter, they revealed that their
fame has not come without media and public scrutiny.
In the article, the publication notes that many people warmed to the Gaines because they
come across as relatable and likable, but the couple also notes that they've been accused
of racism and of not standing with the LGBTQ+ community.
The outlet noted that in the past the couple has rarely commented publicly on the accusations
aimed at them — Now, she is finally addressing some of the issues that have arisen over the
years.
During their cover interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Joanna and Chip said they've faced
a series of hardships in the media which has led them to be accused of being intolerant
and bigoted.
The couple has never featured a same-sex couple or family on "Fixer Upper" and, in 2016, Buzzfeed
reported that they belonged to a church that was vehemently anti-same-sex marriage and
that their pastor advocated for conversion and cure therapies for young LGBTQ+ people.
After the story was published, representatives from HGTV told Buzzfeed,
"We don't discriminate against members of the LGBT community in any of our shows.
HGTV is proud to have a crystal clear, consistent record of including people from all walks
of life in its series."
However, Buzzfeed noted that at the time the couple didn't comment on the accusations or
the article.
Both Joanna and Chip were open about some of the criticism they've received in the past
in their interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
Joanna said,
"The accusations that get thrown at you, like you're a racist or you don't like people in
the LGBTQ community, that's the stuff that really eats my lunch — because it's so far
from who we really are.
That's the stuff that keeps me up."
Over the last year, both Joanna and Chip have posted more about social justice issues on
their social media.
Last year, the couple sat down with Emmanuel Acho for his video series "Uncomfortable Conversations
with a Black Man" to talk about race and racism in the U.S., with Joanna sharing the video
on Instagram.
Similarly, during their interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Chip said that they'd
tried to mirror wider society in their hiring practices and company structuring.
"As an American white male, it's hard to be perfectly diverse.
In our own company, we've got nearly 700 employees, and one of our biggest passions is making
this group represent all people."
The profile noted that many of the couple's fans are female — but they're making more
of an effort to increase sexual and racial diversity in their brands.
The Hollywood Reporter notes that as well as looking at their empire, accusations of
racism towards the Gaines run more personally.
The publication writes that Joanna Gaines' mother was both in Seoul, South Korea, and
that her father is white.
On her Instagram, Joanna Gaines has shared her experiences as an Asian American woman
and what it's like living in a mixed-race family.
There has been a stark rise in hate crimes towards Asian Americans throughout the pandemic,
but Joanna said that she has experienced discrimination throughout her life — as has her mother.
Joanna told The Hollywood Reporter,
"My mom is so tough, but with one look or comment, I would just see her shut down.
That's why she didn't know how to help me when I would come home and say, 'So-and-so
called me this.'
It was also happening to her.
Growing up as half-Asian, half-Caucasian, I get what that feels like to not be accepted
and to not be loved.
That's the last thing I want anyone to ever feel."
In the Instagram post, Joanna echoed a similar sentiment and wrote,
"As I sit here now, with years of living and learning behind me, I want so badly to go
back in time to that little girl — a little girl who happens to be half Korean and shy
and a little bit self-conscious — to tell her that not only is she good enough, but
she is extraordinary."
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