Ty Pennington Shuts Down Comments After Emotional Post: ‘Sad Times We’re Living In’

For over two decades, Ty Pennington’s been known as the high-energy, good-vibes host of television’s top home improvement shows, from ABC’s original “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to HGTV’s “Rock the Block.” But on January 26, 2025, Pennington revealed how down he’s been feeling about the state of the world — and the response left him feeling even more deflated.

Pennington, 60, shared a series of videos of people standing up for and sharing stories of loved ones who are immigrants, starting with a man holding a sign that read, “Immigrants Make America Great.”

“I’ve been pretty quiet on here recently,” Pennington wrote. “This month has felt very dark. Almost every day we turn on the news to another tragedy and it’s hard to keep going like everything is normal. I fear this country has completely lost its empathy 😔💔”

After 45 minutes, Pennington updated his post to say that the “ugly” replies some people were leaving left him no choice but to turn off his comments. But Pennington did find a bright spot in his day, teaming up with one of his HGTV besties, Taniya Nayak, to film a new project. He also received support from other HGTV colleagues and fans who found ways to get a message through.

Ty Pennington Insists His Post ‘Isn’t About Politics’ as HGTV Colleagues & Fans Show Their Support

Less than an hour after uploading his Instagram post, Pennington updated the caption to read, “After 45mins in and I have to turn the comments off bc it’s gotten so ugly- completely proving my point. Sad times we’re living in. This isn’t about politics, it’s about humanity and if you disagree, you’re free to unfollow ✌🏼❤️

Though Pennington turned off the comments, the post received over 7,000 likes during the day, including from HGTV personalities including Nayak, “Help! I Wrecked My Home” star Jasmine Roth, “Love It or List It” alum Hilary Farr, “Married to Real Estate” stars Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson, “Bargain Block” realtor Shea Hicks-Whitfield, “Christina on the Coast” designer James C. Bender, and “Renovation Island” star Sarah Baeumler.

Until his latest reflections, Pennington had not shared an Instagram post since January 1, when he uploaded an amusing photo of himself with a backpack while wearing a helmet and wrote, “How I’m headin into 2025!! Happy New Year friends!”

Several fans who appreciated his January 26 post left messages for him in the January 1 comment section, including one who wrote, “1/26. Thank you for today’s post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and let’s keep working for better days- for all of us”

Another fan chimed in, “I know you turned off the comments on your post about immigrants. But I wanted to say thank you for making that post. I would follow you again if I could. I agree 💯 with you, this country has lost its soul, its ability to have empathy for others. I don’t know how we got here, but I want a country where everyone is accepted for who they are, no matter where they came from, who they love, their religion, how they identify, or what their immigration status is. People need to start watch Mr. Rogers again and learn from his humanitarian & tolerance teachings. Thank you Ty ❤️”

Taniya Nayak & Ty Pennington Spent the Day Filming in Savannah

Though Pennington felt bummed about the response to his post, it didn’t keep him from having fun with Nayak, one of his “Battle on the Beach” co-stars. Early in the day, she posted a video in her Instagram Stories as she got glammed up to film with Pennington.

“I’m getting ready to do a shoot out here in Savannah, Georgia, with one of my most favorite, favorite humans of all times,” she told her followers, asking them to guess who it might be.

A couple of hours later, she posted another selfie video in which she said, “All right, I’m on set. Moment of truth. Who am I with today?”

Suddenly, Pennington popped up behind her with a goofy smile and his trademark straw hat as they laughed and she exclaimed, “Whaaaat!?” She later shared behind-the-scenes footage of crew members with cameras inside a home, where Pennington was sitting at a kitchen island. She also shared a series of photos taken as they played with a megaphone in the kitchen.

The duo didn’t reveal exactly what they’re filming, but they did film a promo with co-star and friend Alison Victoria in early 2024 to announce the fourth season of “Battle on the Beach.”