Chip and Joanna Gaines, once hailed as family-friendly icons in the Christian community, are facing mounting criticism over their newest television projects. The couple, who rose to fame through HGTV’s Fixer Upper, have been accused of openly promoting the LGBTQ agenda in their Magnolia Network productions despite publicly identifying as evangelical Christians.
From Family-Friendly to LGBTQ Promotion
In July, their show Back to the Frontier drew controversy for featuring a same-sex couple with adopted children. At the time, Chip Gaines responded to critics by posting Bible verses on social media, a move that many perceived as dismissive rather than an honest engagement with the concerns raised.
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The backlash has intensified with renewed attention on Roller Jam, another Magnolia Network reality competition. While the program actually debuted late last year in 2024, it only recently went viral online after clips highlighting its LGBTQ content began circulating. Many viewers expressed shock, noting that the show’s messaging had flown largely under the radar until now.
The series features 10 roller skating teams competing for $150,000, but critics point to the heavy inclusion of LGBTQ themes: singer and activist Jordin Sparks as host, flamboyant LGBTQ activist Johnny Weir as a judge and an all-LGBTQ skating team called “Haus of Sk8.”
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Out Magazine praised the show as “the LGBTQ+ roller skating reality show we never knew we needed.” Joanna Gaines not only served as an executive producer but also appeared as a judge in the finale, calling the program “a dream come true” and promoting it as something “the whole family can watch together.”
Christian Fans Voice Concern
Many of the Gaineses’ long-time Christian supporters say they feel betrayed. What was once marketed as wholesome, family-friendly programming is now seen as affirming sin.
“This blows apart Chip’s pretense that they are merely trying to be kind and understanding to individuals who identify as LGBTQ,” journalist Megan Basham said. “They are clearly using their positions and influence to promote disordered sexuality and gender behavior.”
Christian blogger Jackie Chea added, “So basically, there’s absolutely no difference between what these two professing Christians produce and what the world produces. Fantastic.”
Other responses from former fans expressed grief over the couple’s direction.
A Question of Witness
The criticism has not come only from conservative commentators. Ordinary Christians across social media have joined in questioning why Chip and Joanna, who once cultivated a brand of faith-based living, would now use their influence to promote what Scripture clearly identifies as sin.
Romans 1:32 warns against not only practicing unrighteousness but also approving of those who do. Jesus Himself called His followers to be salt and light in a dark world (Matt. 5:13–16), not to conform to it.
The Gaineses’ journey illustrates the tension many believers face between cultural acceptance and biblical conviction. While kindness and compassion are non-negotiable in the Christian walk, affirming what God’s Word calls sin is not an option for those who profess to follow Christ.
Faith and Compromise
The Gaineses have not issued a full statement in response to the criticism. To date, Chip’s cryptic Bible verse posts remain their only acknowledgment of the controversy.
As their projects increasingly reflect worldly values rather than biblical truth, Chip and Joanna Gaines face a question that every Christian must answer: will they conform to culture, or will they stand firm on the Word of God?
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The concern is not about roller skating or television entertainment. It is about the witness of those who publicly bear the name of Christ. If Chip and Joanna Gaines continue to proclaim Jesus as Lord, they must also remember His words in John 14:15: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.
