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." Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus, even more List videos about your favorite
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