BuzzFeed Reporter’s ‘Fixer Upper’ Story Ripped as ‘Bigoted Intolerant Hatred’

Tony Maglio
BuzzFeed Reporter’s ‘Fixer Upper’ Story Ripped as ‘Bigoted Intolerant Hatred’

BuzzFeed entertainment journalist Kate Aurthur posted a story earlier this week wondering if “Fixer Upper” hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines might be anti-gay. Her through-line centered on the HGTV couple’s Christian pastor, who preaches homosexuality as a sin and allegedly believes in conversion toward a heterosexual lifestyle.

Since then, the BuzzFeed reporter has been getting lambasted on Twitter, where she’s being called everything from “vapid and vengeful” to “bigoted” and “intolerant.” Though the money quote may be “.@KateAurthur is a McCarthyite witch-hunter,” which comes courtesy of user Justin Raimondo.

In an op-ed, The Washington Post even referred to Aurthur’s “hit piece” as “dangerous” — so it’s not just angry social media scribes turning on the popular click-bait website’s choice to publish. Of course, there are plenty of those, and they’re simple to share.

Also Read: 'Fixer Upper' Hosts' Pastor Refutes Buzzfeed Report Church Is Anti-Gay: 'Absolutely Not'

Here’s a handful of the Twitter blowback:

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To be fair to Aurthur, her initial post on “Fixer Upper” has been seemingly endorsed by other websites like Jezebel. And, as in any Twitter bout, the response has not been totally one-sided.

As for the reporter herself, Aurthur seemed to take the negative responses in stride. She tweeted out the following:

She also retweeted this post:

Poor Kate A-r-t-h-u-r. Spelling matters, kids.

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When reached by TheWrap for comment, Aurthur told us that she’s just happy HGTV responded to her piece with the following statement: “We don’t discriminate against members of the LGBT community in any of our shows. HGTV is proud to have a crystal clear, consistent record of including people from all walks of life in its series.”

She also pointed us back to her Twitter feed, where she more-recently posted these:

Related stories from TheWrap:

'Ellen's Design Challenge' Closes With Disqualified Winner, Qualified Ratings Success for HGTV

HGTV's Booted Benham Brothers Say Christians 'Must Be Willing to Die' to Uphold Traditional Values (Video)

Benham Brothers Blame HGTV Cancellation on Anti-Faith Agenda: 'We Love Homosexuals'

Benham Brothers Speak Out on HGTV Show Being Canned: We're Committed to Biblical Principles

HGTV Cancels Pilot From Anti-Gay Hosts Following Fan Backlash