Chip and Joanna Gaines couldn’t wait for fans to tune into their newest Magnolia Network series on July 10, 2025, eager to take viewers “back in time” with three families on “Back to the Frontier.” The former HGTV stars shared clips on social media of themselves visiting with the families, who agreed to try to live like 1880s homesteaders for four weeks as cameras followed their every move.
“‘Back to the Frontier’ is unlike anything we’ve ever created,” Joanna wrote in a post on July 11. “Chip and I loved visiting these families and left inspired by the risks they took to step back in time—trading modern technology for an older way of living. We’re so proud of the bonds they formed, the food they grew, and all the ways they made the frontier feel like home.”
But the show that the Gaines hoped would inspire viewers to spend less time using social media and more time connecting with those they love has done the opposite in some cases. It’s prompted a firestorm of online criticism from viewers who are livid that one of the three families featured on “Back to the Frontier” consists of two married, gay men and their 10-year-old twin sons, born via surrogate.
As of July 15, the Gaines — who are executive producers of “Back to the Frontier” — continued to stand behind their show and its stars, despite pressure from conservative Christian fans and evangelical organizations like the American Family Association.
Critics Think Chip & Joanna Gaines Are ‘Compromising’ Their Faith With New Show
Joanna’s July 11 Instagram post about “Back to the Frontier” drew over 45,000 likes. But among the more than 2,000 comments, many expressed anger or disappointment that she and Chip had “compromised” their “Christian values” by featuring a gay couple on the show.
More than 300 people liked one comment that said, “Hard pass for me. Sorry to hear you’re compromising your faith.”
“One day, you will be held accountable,” another wrote. “You were given such an amazing opportunity to promote Jesus. And now, you are just another Hollywood sellout. So sad. 😞”
On July 12, Reverend Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, tweeted, “I hope this isn’t true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series. If It is true, it is very disappointing. While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word. His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.”
Critics have continued to flood Joanna’s social media posts with complaints and calls for boycotts on the Gaines’ shows and products, even on posts unrelated to the show. Multiple people have expressed “shock” on each post that the designer and “Fixer Upper” star hasn’t limited or shut down her comment sections.
But there have been many comments defending the couple, too, including from someone who wrote on July 14, “Honestly, I haven’t paid much attention to the Gaines for awhile as home renovation and decoration is not my area of passion but coming here to send some love! Thank you for making a decision based in love even if you are getting a ton of unloving backlash from those who say they are called to love others. 😔”
Many people have been supportive of the Gaines and their show on Facebook, too, including someone who shared, “Families come in all shapes, sizes, colors and genders. I watched it and was impressed by their faith and bravery to do this. Looking forward to the next episode.”
Chip Gaines Speaks Out Amid ‘Back to the Frontier’ Controversy
Although Joanna has chosen not to reply directly to comments on her social media, Chip opted to speak out via several tweets. On July 13, he expressed his disappointment in what he called the “modern American Christian culture” of quick-to-judge, online critics.
Early that morning, Chip tweeted, “Talk, ask qustns, listen.. maybe even learn. Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never It’s a sad sunday when “non believers” have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian 💔”
Joel Berry, editor of the Christian parody news website The Babylon Bee, tweeted in response, “You’ll see no hate from me. I’m just sad. I can’t let my kids watch your show now, since I’m trying to protect their eyes and hearts from the lies of the world—lies you’re now participating in. Also, filter out some of the online vitriol and consider taking to heart some of the substantive concerns and heartbreak from the Christians who make up your fanbase.”
“Don’t be sad Joel.. plenty of other stuff out there,” Chip tweeted back. “I’m sure everyone will be fine. BUT I sincerely appreciate the advice about taking some of the thoughtful, heartfelt, encouraging constructive criticism to heart.. and I certainly will”
When a fan tweeted to Chip, “We are extremely sad because of how much we have grown to admire and appreciate you both,” he replied, “Well I appreciate that.. sincerely. So if you admire and appreciate us so much. Any chance there’s more to this? But that’s my point.. no one knows. But the ‘Christians’ have certainly come out in full force as if they do know.. ‘judge not….’ ‘Love one another’ its not difficult”
Tweet From Nearly a Decade Ago Comes in Handy for Chip Gaines
GettyChip also dug up a tweet from December 2016 that he sent when he and Joanna were in the midst of another controversy, ironically because of a Buzzfeed article that revealed the couple attended a church that was against same-sex marriage. At the time, it caused evangelical Christians to celebrate and LGBTQ+ supporters to bristle, concerned that the Gaines agreed with their church’s stance.
The Gaines never confirmed their stance on gay marriage, which was legalized in June 2015, but Chip did write a blog post about the 2016 controversy regarding their church affiliation, which said, “Joanna and I have personal convictions. One of them is this: we care about you for the simple fact that you are a person, our neighbor on planet earth.”
“It’s not about what color your skin is, how much money you have in the bank, your political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or faith,” he continued. “That’s all fascinating, but it cannot add or take away from the reality that we’re already pulling for you. We are not about to get in the nasty business of throwing stones at each other, don’t ask us to cause we won’t play that way.”
At the time, Chip had tweeted, “In times of trouble.. you’ll find the gaines family at church.” On July 13, amid the new controversy, he retweeted that old message and added, “On our way to church.. Y’all enjoy this beautiful Sunday!”
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Chip & Joanna Gaines Face Intense Pushback Over New Show: How They’re Handling It Together