Chip and Joanna Gaines are one of the most prominent couples featured on HGTV, but unfortunately, they were recently tied to a scandal involving the LGBT community. In November, after a BuzzFeed article claimed the "Fixer Upper" stars attended a church where their pastor has taken a "hard line" against same-sex marriage and promotes the conversion of LGBT members into straight people.
Following the release of the article, many wondered if the HGTV couple were also anti-LGBT, which prompted an online response. In a blog post shared earlier this month, Chip Gaines urged all people to treat others "with dignity and with love," despite what their views and choices may be.
After noting that he has never seen humanity more divided, the television star said that he and his wife Joanna would not allow themselves to be baited into influencing the world in a way that may cause harm.
"We care about you for the simple fact that you are a person, our neighbor on planet earth," Chip explained, adding that things including finances, religion, sexual orientation and gender, do not matter. Rather than be judgmental, Chip and Joanna hope their fans and others around the world will put their differences aside and operate with a genuine love for each other.
Chip and Joanna aren't the only HGTV couple making headlines
In addition to Chip and Joanna Gaines' recent scandal, their fellow HGTV stars, Tarek and Christina El Moussa, have also been in the news after it was revealed that they had secretly parted ways with one another last May -- and dated other people in the months since.
As fans may have heard, Tarek and Christina El Moussa began living separately last spring after a bizarre incident at their Southern California home. Since then, Tarek has been tied to his children's former nanny, Alyssa Logan, while Christina has been linked to their former family contractor, Gary Anderson.
To see more of Chip and Joanna Gaines, tune in to "Fixer Upper" season four on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m. on HGTV.
