July 16, 2025 – Chip and Joanna Gaines, the evangelical Christian stars of HGTV’s Fixer Higher and founders of Magnolia Community, are going through a firestorm of criticism from conservative Christian followers for that includes a same-sex couple, Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs, and their 10-year-old twin sons of their new actuality present, Again to the Frontier. The sequence, which premiered on July 10, 2025, on HBO Max and Magnolia Community, follows three households dwelling as Eighteen Eighties homesteaders with out fashionable facilities. The inclusion of Hanna and Riggs has sparked accusations of abandoning biblical values, with outstanding critics like Franklin Graham and the American Household Affiliation main the cost. Chip Gaines responded forcefully on X on July 13, condemning the “hate and vitriol” from “fashionable American Christian tradition,” whereas the couple acquired assist from the featured couple and progressive voices. The controversy highlights tensions between the Gaineses’ faith-based model and evolving cultural expectations.
The Controversy: Backlash Over Identical-Intercourse Couple
Again to the Frontier, produced by Magnolia Community in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, challenges three households to stay with out electrical energy, working water, or know-how, embracing a Nineteenth-century homesteading life-style. Among the many individuals are Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs, a Texas-based same-sex couple with twin sons born through surrogate in 2014. Their inclusion prompted swift backlash from conservative evangelical followers who view the portrayal as endorsing an “unbiblical” view of marriage.
- Franklin Graham’s Criticism: On July 12, 2025, evangelist Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, posted on X, “I hope this isn’t true, however I learn as we speak that Chip and Joanna Gaines are that includes a homosexual couple of their new sequence. Whether it is true, it is rather disappointing. … God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one girl. Selling one thing that God defines as sin is in itself sin.”
- American Household Affiliation (AFA): AFA Vice President Ed Vitagliano referred to as the casting “unhappy and disappointing,” arguing that the Gaineses, influential within the evangelical group, had “reversed course” on their prior stance on conventional marriage. “Again to the Frontier promotes an unbiblical view of human sexuality, marriage, and household – a view no Christian ought to embrace,” he wrote on X.
- Fan Reactions: Conservative voices on X, equivalent to @MattWalshBlog and @AlwaysRightUSA, accused the Gaineses of “caving to the LGBT agenda” and referred to as for boycotts, with Jon Root urging followers to not assist their exhibits or merchandise. @GBostockTAAB labeled the present “ungodly trash.”
Chip Gaines’ Response
On July 13, 2025, Chip Gaines addressed the backlash on X, writing, “Speak, ask qustns [sic], pay attention.. possibly even study. An excessive amount of to ask of contemporary American Christian tradition. Choose 1st, perceive later/by no means. It’s a tragic sunday when ‘non believers’ have by no means been confronted with hate or vitriol till they’re launched to a contemporary American Christian 💔.” He later responded to a critic expressing admiration for the couple, saying, “Nicely I admire that.. sincerely. … ‘decide not…’ ‘Love each other’ its not tough.”
Gaines’ posts criticized what he sees as hypocrisy in evangelical responses, urging dialogue over judgment. In a direct reply to a different consumer, he prompt there is likely to be “extra to this” story, implying critics had been fast to sentence with out understanding the context.
Help from Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs
Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs defended the Gaineses, emphasizing the significance of illustration. On July 15, Hanna posted on Instagram, over a information article headline about “Conservative Christians rage at actuality present for letting homosexual folks on,” stating, “Illustration issues deeply — particularly for many who are nonetheless discovering the braveness to stay their reality. … Visibility isn’t nearly being seen; it’s about ensuring nobody feels alone.” Riggs shared a Folks article on Instagram Tales, writing, “Thanks @chipgaines and @joannagaines for main with love, listening and studying,” accompanied by a heart-hands emoji.
In an interview with Queerty, Hanna defined their motivation: “What actually impressed me was after I noticed the flyer on social media, and I noticed a homosexual couple on the entrance of that flyer, and so … I believed it might be an ideal alternative for illustration for same-sex {couples}.” Riggs added that they discovered queer homesteaders existed within the Eighteen Eighties, typically escaping city ostracism, which added historic depth to their participation.
The Gaineses’ Historical past with Controversy
This isn’t the primary time Chip and Joanna Gaines have confronted criticism over their stance on inclusivity:
- 2016 Anti-LGBTQ Church Allegations: The couple was criticized for attending Antioch Group Church in Waco, Texas, whose pastor reportedly opposed same-sex marriage. Fixer Higher (2013–2018) by no means featured a same-sex couple, fueling accusations of anti-LGBTQ bias. In a 2017 weblog submit, Chip wrote, “We care about you for the easy reality that you’re a particular person, our neighbor on planet earth,” no matter sexual orientation, however critics like HuffPost referred to as this a “drained” deflection.
- 2021 Racism and Homophobia Accusations: After donating $1,000 to Chip’s sister Shannon Braun’s faculty board marketing campaign, which opposed vital race concept, the Gaineses confronted backlash for alleged racism and anti-LGBTQ views. Joanna, who’s half-Korean, informed The Hollywood Reporter, “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 basically eats my lunch — as a result of it’s so removed from who we actually are.” She highlighted her experiences with racism rising up and their efforts to diversify Magnolia Community, which employs practically 700 folks and options exhibits like Thoughts for Design with brazenly homosexual host Brian Patrick Flynn.
- Range Efforts: The Gaineses have promoted inclusivity via Magnolia, together with Black-owned manufacturers and BIPOC hosts, and appeared on Emmanuel Acho’s Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man in 2020 to debate elevating their 5 kids to embrace range.
Broader Context and Implications
The backlash displays broader cultural tensions between evangelical Christianity and societal shifts towards inclusivity. The Gaineses, with an estimated web value of $50 million and a faith-driven model, have lengthy appealed to conservative audiences via Fixer Higher and Magnolia Community’s family-friendly programming. Their choice to characteristic Hanna and Riggs aligns with their 2021 dedication to range however dangers alienating their evangelical base, as seen in requires boycotts from figures like Jon Root.
Progressive voices, like actor Jody Dean (@JodyDeanShow) and @pameladubsky49, praised the Gaineses for “main with love,” with Dean stating, “The backlash towards Chip and Joanna Gaines proves but once more that the toughest factor for Christians to do is definitely behave like Christ.” Hanna and Riggs’ inclusion is seen as a step towards normalizing same-sex households, with Hanna noting to NBC Connecticut, “When households like ours are seen, it opens doorways for others to really feel protected, beloved, and validated.”
Critics like William Wolfe of the Middle for Baptist Management argue the Gaineses have “traded the cross of Christ for an LGBT rainbow flag,” framing their choice as a profit-driven betrayal of biblical ideas. The Nationwide Catholic Register speculated that the Gaineses might have succumbed to cultural strain to keep away from labels like “bigoted” or “homophobic,” a view echoed by the American-born Pope Leo XIV’s 2012 feedback on media fostering sympathy for practices at odds with the Gospel.
Vital Evaluation
The Gaineses’ response suggests a shift from their earlier neutrality on controversial points. Chip’s name for dialogue over judgment contrasts with their 2017 strategy, the place they prevented straight addressing anti-LGBTQ accusations. Nonetheless, their evangelical fanbase perceives this as a departure from their religion, with The Augusta Press arguing that permitting a same-sex couple with out “lovingly correcting” their life-style is “unloving” and “hateful” in a biblical sense.
The controversy raises questions on whether or not the Gaineses are prioritizing business pursuits—Magnolia Community’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, owned by CNN’s mother or father firm, might encourage broader attraction—or genuinely evolving their views. Their previous protection of inclusivity, together with that includes LGBTQ+ hosts like Brian Patrick Flynn, suggests a dedication to illustration, however the lack of a direct assertion from Joanna leaves room for hypothesis about their private stance.
What’s Subsequent?
The Gaineses face a fragile balancing act: sustaining their evangelical viewers whereas aligning with a diversifying media panorama. It’s unclear whether or not Magnolia Community or HBO Max will reply to calls for for clarification of the couple’s views, as raised by EWTN Nice Britain. The present’s TV-14 score and family-friendly branding might intensify scrutiny, with critics like @aRealCArepub warning of a “go woke, go broke” fallout.
For now, Again to the Frontier continues streaming, with Hanna and Riggs expressing gratitude for the platform. The Gaineses’ subsequent strikes—whether or not addressing critics additional or doubling down on inclusivity—will form their model’s future. Observe updates on The Hollywood Gossip, CNN, or People.
Tags: Chip Gaines, Joanna Gaines, Again to the Frontier, Magnolia Community, same-sex couple, evangelical backlash, Franklin Graham, Jason Hanna, Joe Riggs, Christian values, inclusivity