(Warning: Doubtlessly Triggering Content material)
This isn’t the type of story we anticipated to be writing about HGTV star Nicole Curtis.
The favored Rehab Addict star constructed her model on grit and authenticity. She was the scrappy, hands-on renovator who prided herself on getting soiled to revive outdated properties in forgotten neighborhoods. However this week, that picture shattered after a stunning video surfaced displaying Curtis utilizing a racial slur whereas filming her present — and now, HGTV has minimize ties.
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In footage obtained on Wednesday by Radar On-linethe 49-year-old was struggling by means of a particular renovation second when frustration took over. She mentioned:
“Why? It’s the final one. Oh, fart n*****.”
Uh… WHAT?!
The clip doesn’t finish there. Virtually instantly, Curtis seems to appreciate the magnitude of what she mentioned. As members of the crew can seemingly be heard laughing off digicam, she shortly asks for the second to be erased:
“What the f**ok is that I simply mentioned? Nickyou gotta, you gotta, are you able to kill that? F**ok my life.”
However in 2026, there isn’t a “killing” footage like that. As soon as it exists, it exists. And when it surfaced, the fallout was swift.
After being contacted in regards to the video, HGTV launched a proper assertion to Radar On-line acknowledging the scenario and condemning the language used:
“(HGTV was) just lately made conscious of an offensive racial remark made throughout the filming of Rehab Addict. We perceive that language like that is hurtful and disappointing to our viewers, companions, and staff, and it doesn’t align with the values of HGTV.”
The community didn’t cease at phrases. They took rapid and decisive motion:
“(We’ve) eliminated the collection from all HGTV platforms. We stay devoted to fostering a tradition of respect and inclusion throughout our content material and our office.”
Wow.
In case you want to see it, you may watch the second for your self HERE. Ugh. Completely grotesque.
BTW, simply hours earlier than that assertion turned public, followers seen one thing telling: an HGTV Instagram put up selling the much-anticipated return of Rehab Addict had been quietly deleted. What had earlier been a celebratory plug for the present’s comeback out of the blue redirected customers to a message saying the content material was now not out there. And… now we all know why.
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Curtis, for her half, returned to social media after the video started circulating. However slightly than instantly addressing the slur or apologizing publicly, she appeared to deal with defending the uncooked, stripped-down nature of her fashion and the authenticity of her work. In her personal put up over on IG on Wednesday, she wrote:
“(I’ll) go to my final breath being proud that I did this extra actual, extra uncooked than anybody else. There’s by no means been 100 folks, not to mention 25 folks, even 10 folks labeled manufacturing after I’m working. It’s me, it’s my development guys, on large days (that means there’s an enormous construct like roof happening), it’s 2 cameras, however most, it’s one. It’s by no means been about how I look (I repair that in put up) it’s all the time been about the home.”
She continued by emphasizing the troublesome circumstances she and her crew have labored by means of over time:
“(We’ve had) squatters, medicine, human waste, the nastiest you may think about, and we ended up with the attractive Doris home. Once more — flippers flip. Nicole Curtis (that’s me) and crew restore historical past.”
You’ll be able to see that put up (beneath):
Clearly, for a lot of viewers, the problem isn’t about manufacturing measurement or renovation challenges. It’s about accountability. Phrases matter. Particularly phrases that carry centuries of ache and violence.
And in a media panorama the place audiences more and more demand accountability from public figures, this type of language — even uttered in frustration, and even adopted by remorse — has penalties.
To be taught extra about civil rights points, try https://www.splcenter.org/.