Chip And Joanna Gaines' Scandals Didn't End Their Celebrity Friendships

July 07, 2024

Highlights

Chip and Joanna Gaines have an extensive business empire.
The couple faced accusations of racism and homophobia.
Chip and Joanna Gaines have formed friendships with Hollywood stars.

Chip and Joanna Gaines' influence extends far beyond their TV show. Their impressive repertoire includes their merchandise line at Target, the Magnolia Market, and their TV network, Magnolia Network. In 2019, the Gaines were included in Time Magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.

Even Hollywood A-listers are captivated by the charisma of the home improvement duo. While fame brings its share of privileges, it also exposed Chip and Joanna to heightened scrutiny, unwarranted criticism, and legal disputes along the way.

8 Chip And Joanna Gaines Were Accused Of Racism And Homophobia

Net Worth - $50 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: $750 Million

In 2016, Chip and Joanna Gaines were associated with an anti-gay church, and their appearance on Emmanuel Acho's, Conversations with a Black Man in 2020, became highly debatable.

List of Chip and Joanna Gaines' Businesses:

Magnolia Network
Joanna Gaines' Design Book
Magnolia Table Restaurant
Magnolia Table Cookbook
Magnolia Homes/Realty
Hearth and Hand Line at Target
Magnolia Journal Magazine
Magnolia Market at Silos
Magnolia Seed + Supply
Magnolia Press Coffee

The Gaines largely maintained a low profile, but they chose to address these issues through their brand's website. They wrote that their company unequivocally condemned racism and announced contributions to various charities and organizations. Chip also articulated his commitment to supporting individuals regardless of their race or sexual orientation.

Chip And Joanna Gaines' Scandals Pale In Comparison To The Candis And Andy Meredith Lawsuit On The Magnolia Network

Candis and Andy Meredith's scandal on the Magnolia Network blows away the numerous controversies the Gaines' have faced.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the couple confronted the allegations directly. Joanna expressed her frustration over the falsehood of the accusations, while Chip acknowledged the challenges of being a white male in striving for perfect diversity but emphasized their commitment to reflecting their true values through their new network.

7 Cher Expressed Her Admiration For Chip And Joanna Gaines

Net Worth: $360 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: $75-85 Million

Cher holds a deep appreciation for Chip and Joanna Gaines and their show, Fixer Upper. She shared her fondness for the show in a tweet, reminiscing about a particular episode that brought back cherished memories of a house from her past.

The couple reciprocated their affection for Cher and revealed that she was a source of cherished memories for them as well. Cher also mentioned that she enjoys keeping up with Chip and Joanna Gaines and their journey of raising five kids. Chip responded to Cher's tweet and affectionately referred to the pop icon as "Auntie Cher."

6 Inside Chip And Joanna Gaines' Friendship With Ryan Reynolds And Blake Lively

Net Worth (Combined): $380 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: $7.6 Million

Joanna Gaines revealed to ET that her husband, Chip Gaines had a man crush on Ryan Reynolds. "Chip loves Ryan Reynolds. I'm sure he has a man crush on him. He likes to go back and forth with Scott Foley," Joanna shared.

Despite the surreal nature of their interactions, Chip and Reynolds have exchanged tweets multiple times, which expanded to email exchanges. Even Blake Lively couldn't resist the allure of the Fixer-Upper show. Lively admired the remarkable work of Chip and Joanna and told People's Magazine that she and Reynolds became friends with the home improvement duo.

5 Matthew McConaughey Invited Chip And Joanna Gaines To His Charity Event

Net Worth: $160 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: $7-10 Million

In the June 2021 issue of The Hollywood Reporter, Matthew McConaughey expressed his admiration for Chip and Joanna Gaines, who share his proud Texas heritage.

McConaughey even invited the couple to join him as guests at his We're Texas charity event in March 2021. The star-studded gathering aimed to support fellow Texans who had been affected by the severe winter storms that struck the state.

During a virtual appearance at the event, Chip mentioned their collective commitment to assisting those impacted by disasters.

4 Chip And Joanna Gaines Went On A Double Date With Ex-Couple Jennifer Lopez And Alex Rodriguez

Net Worth: Jennifer Lopez - $400 Million, Alex Rodriguez - $350 Million

Real Estate Portfolio (Combined): $60 Million

In 2019, Alex Rodriguez approached Chip and Joanna Gaines to transform their $6.6 million ocean-side property in Malibu. The project was meant to be a surprise for his second anniversary with his then-fiancée, Jennifer Lopez.

Lopez, Rodriguez, and the Gaines went on a double date after Chip and Joanna arrived in California. They were even spotted by TMZ, accompanied by a camera crew, but the Fixer Upper episode idea never materialized.

Do Chip And Joanna Gaines' 5 Kids Live A Life Of Insane Luxury Thanks To The Success Of Fixer Upper?

Chip and Joanna Gaines made a ton of money on Fixer Upper, and fans are eager to know if their five kids are living well as a result.

In April 2021, Lopez and Rodriguez announced their split, and it was not confirmed if JLo stayed friends with Chip and Joanna or if their relationship was purely for business purposes.

3 Chip And Joanna Gaines Supported Reese Witherspoon On Her Book Launch

Net Worth: $400 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: $46 Million

Chip and Joanna Gaines joined Reese Witherspoon during her visit to Magnolia Market. The Gaines extended a warm welcome to Witherspoon and the event's host, Jenna Bush Hager, who were there to celebrate the release of Witherspoon's book, Whiskey in a Teacup.

In good humor, Joanna acknowledged that she was still adjusting to life after welcoming their fifth child in 2018. Despite the whirlwind of new motherhood, she expressed her excitement to be part of the occasion.

2 Inside Chip And Joanna Gaines' Friendship With Drew Barrymore

Net Worth: $125 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: $25 Million

Chip and Joanna Gaines' friendship with Drew Barrymore started through their interactions on social media. After chatting online, Barrymore traveled to Waco, Texas to meet the Gaines, and the couple made appearances on The Drew Barrymore Show.

When Barrymore started her home renovation journey, she didn't hesitate to reach out to Chip and Joanna Gaines whom she playfully calls "Chip and Jo."

Barrymore also called Joanna Gaines her hero in an Instagram post after she shared a photo of herself holding a copy of Magnolia Journal's summer 2022 edition, with Joanna Gaines on the cover.

1 Inside Chip And Joanna Gaines' Friendship With Former First Lady Laura Bush And Her Daughter, Jenna Bush Hager

Net Worth: Laura Bush - $40 Million, Jenna Bush Hager - $14 Million

Real Estate Portfolio: Laura Bush - $3 Million, Jenna Bush Hager - $5 Million

In a 2018 episode of Fixer Upper, former First Lady Laura Bush was featured as a special guest after she extended a warm welcome to Chip and Joanna Gaines at her estate in Crawford, Texas.

Laura Bush shared her excitement on Twitter about her appearance on the show and directed a special tune-in alert to her daughter, Jenna Bush Hager. Hager does not hide her admiration for the Gaines, "I definitely have a major marriage crush on them..." Hager told TODAY.

In 2023, Hager and her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, made a dinner stop at Chip and Joanna Gaines' newly opened boutique hotel, Hotel 1928. Hager reposted the story on her Instagram and encouraged her followers to visit Hotel 1928.

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