HGTV Axes Long-Running Show Following Racial Slur Controversy
The popular home renovation series Rehab Addict has been abruptly cancelled by HGTV after a video emerged showing its star, Nicole Curtis, using a highly offensive racial slur during production. The network confirmed the decision in a public statement, citing a fundamental misalignment with its corporate values.
Leaked Footage Sparks Immediate Backlash
A video clip, originally published by Radar Online, captured Curtis, 49, uttering the N-word in a moment of apparent frustration on set. The footage shows her immediately expressing shock at her own words, followed by a request to her production crew to "kill" the recording. The leak coincided with the scheduled return of the show's ninth season to HGTV's programming lineup.
"Not only is language like this hurtful and disappointing to our viewers, partners, and employees — it does not align with the values of HGTV," the network stated. "Accordingly, we have removed the series from all HGTV platforms." The network further emphasized its commitment to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion across all its content and workplace environments.
Curtis Issues Apology, Claims Video Was Manipulated
In response to the controversy and the show's cancellation, Nicole Curtis issued a lengthy apology on her Instagram account. While expressing deep remorse and regret, she made a startling claim about the origin of the damaging video.
"I am sorry. I am filled with remorse and regret," Curtis wrote. "What has been circulating is a clip of MY footage that was stolen then manipulated, edited and sold to a tabloid to coincide with my return to television."
She insisted the incident occurred four years prior, in 2022, and that the offensive word was not part of her regular vocabulary. Curtis also clarified that HGTV was unaware of the incident at the time because the segment was filmed during her personal time, without the network's knowledge.
Host's Explanation and Fan Reaction
In her social media statement, Curtis attempted to contextualize the slip, attributing it to a pattern of using nonsensical, made-up phrases in place of common swear words, a habit documented over her 15-year television career. Examples she cited included "son of a beehive digger" and "fart knocker."
"I hear that word on a daily basis, people say it all around me," Curtis wrote, describing her long-standing connection to urban communities in cities like Detroit and Minneapolis. "I know it was wrong. This will never happen again."
The apology received a mixed response from her followers. Curtis later noted in the comments that she had engaged in many difficult conversations with disappointed fans and, most painfully, with her own two children.
End of an Era for Home Renovation Television
Rehab Addict first debuted in 2010, following Curtis as she specialized in restoring historical properties. The show developed a dedicated fanbase over nine seasons, with its most recent run launching in June after a three-year hiatus. Curtis had previously expressed excitement about returning to the screen, telling PEOPLE magazine she remained the same passionate preservationist from Detroit, just with more experience.
The cancellation marks a definitive and controversial end to a significant chapter in home improvement television, underscoring the severe repercussions for public figures in the age of instant media scrutiny and leaked content.
