Chip and Joanna Gaines face fan backlash over new Fixer Upper project: ‘It looks like they’re showing off’

Chip and Joanna Gaines have sparked furious backlash following the recent release of the trailer for their newest show, Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse.

Despite building a loyal following since launching to stardom in the first season of their HGTV series, Fixer Upper, in 2013, the couple have now been slammed over accusations that they are flaunting their wealth in the newest installment of their hit show.

After watching the sneak peek of their latest fixer upper project, uploaded to Magnolia Network’s Instagram, a number of fans began commenting that the couple seemed to be ‘showing off.’

One explained: ‘I don’t like watching HGTV personalities renovating their own luxury 2nd or 3rd homes. It looks like they’re showing off.’ 

‘That show is no longer enjoyable,’ another wrote as numerous others admitted they stopped watching their show altogether after they decided to charge ‘for their network.’

In response to the comment accusing the pair, who share five children, of being ostentatious, multiple Instagram users defended Chip, 49, and Joanna, 46. 

‘Don’t be jealous they’ve earned it,’ one fired back. 

Another asked: What’s wrong with other’s success?’ 

At no point during the trailer did Chip or Joanna state that they planned on keeping the property as they seemingly renovating the property to flip as they have done in the past.  

During the trailer, the duo noted that the renovation project falls on the 10-year anniversary of their hit series debuting on HGTV. 

‘I think with this lake house, there’s something about it that just feels significant that this project landed on our ten year Fixer anniversary,’ Joanna said in the beginning of the trailer. So it kind of feels like…’

Chip, then interjects: ‘It was really meant to be.’ 

In a press release, obtained by ABC News, for their upcoming six-episode series, which will air on Magnolia Network and HGTV, the couple admitted that they ‘couldn’t have imagined the journey we had ahead’ of them.

‘Though a lot has changed and evolved in the decade between then and now, our love for home is still at the heart of everything we do,’ they said. 

The duo concluded: ‘We feel honored that we get to continue pouring into the stories of these homes across Waco, and we’re excited to share our latest project with you this summer with Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse.’

Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse will premiere on Sunday, June 2. 

In November, the couple reflected on the ‘evolution’ of their relationship and their family after 20 years of marriage. 

The reality stars admitted things are ‘shifting’ between their romance and raising their five children as they oversee a lifestyle empire that includes a product line at Target and their own TV network during a candid interview with People.

‘Jo and I are in this beautiful moment. We’re evolving into each other,’ Chip said. ‘It’s the second part of our marriage’.

‘What we have realized about our kids is, they want to feel as normal as possible. So they don’t ever talk about any of it. I think they love the idea of flying under the radar, feeling normal,’ Joanna explained. 

‘We get that. But maybe they’ll be proud of this one day,’ she added, referring to the juggernaut of their lifestyle brand Magnolia.

The couple said they understand it might mean letting their kids fly the coop and discover a passion other than the family business.

‘Obviously at some point it’d be so fun to have one or two of our kids work with us, but that’s definitely not what we’re saying out loud to them,’ said Joanna.

‘Chip is really good at saying, “You need your own identity. When you’re finished with college, go do some stuff on your own. Learn some stuff. And then if you want to come back years later and teach us, we’re here.”‘

Although the children might be too young to appreciate their parents hard work, the couple said a compliment from them slips in once in a while, like when they opened their boutique Hotel 1928 on November 1. 

‘They kept saying, “I can’t believe something like this is in Waco. We feel like we’re in New York City”. That was the biggest compliment,’ Joanna gushed. ‘I was like, “Ah, they’re finally impressed.” It felt like a big win.’ 

‘Teenagers aren’t notorious for compliments,’ added Chip. ‘I’m sure we’re not the only parents that come home and are like, I wonder it these teenagers even like us, much less are fond of the work we’re doing.’

‘They’re working through their own stuff,’ Joanna agreed.

The couple have clearly worked through their own stuff as well, as they have found a way to appreciate each other after all these years together.

‘I think that’s the beauty of relationships in general. If Chip weren’t my partner, I would probably still be in the corner,’ Joanna admitted. ‘From the moment I met him, he’s always experienced change in a positive way. Even if it was negative, it was, “All right. What do we do next?”‘

She added, ‘We’ve had so much change in our lives, and the proof is there: Change is hard, but it’s always beautiful.’

‘I hope that it’s just the beginning,’ said Chip. ‘I hope that we get to look back in 20 years from now, and feel just as confident that we were meant to be. We really feel like we are in some ways just getting started.’