Chip, Joanna Gaines Reject Claim That They're Ending 'Fixer Upper' Over Security Concerns
Chip and Joanna Gaines did not end their show due to security concerns for their children, despite reports that have been circulating this week.
The HGTV stars who are ending their "Fixer Upper" series after its fifth season, which debuts in November, were subject to false reports about them wanting to stop the show to keep their kids out of the spotlight.
"Though they've tried to keep their brood out of the spotlight, 'people drive by and like to take pictures in front of their house,' which presents 'a security issue' for the parents of four," a source reportedly told Us Weekly. "I think they just want to take a step back from it."
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While the Gaines are parents to four children named Drake, 12, Ella, 10, Duke, 9, and Emmie, 7, their representative told Entertainment Tonight that those rumors about ending the show to protect their children are false.
"Chip and Jo's decision to leave 'Fixer Upper' is truly just based on wanting to catch their breath for a minute; to rest, refresh and spend even more time with their family and growing businesses," the rep told Entertainment Tonight this week. "It is not based on concerns for their family's safety or anything else people might read. They were very open and honest about their reasoning behind this decision when they first shared the announcement."
The couple announced the ending of their show last month in a post on their Magnolia blog.
"This is just us recognizing that we need to catch our breath for a moment," they wrote. "Our plan is to take this time to shore up and strengthen the spots that are weak, rest the places that are tired and give lots of love and attention to both our family and our businesses."
While they promised to keep in touch with fans, the couple admitted that the decision to end their show was anything but easy.
"While we are confident that this is the right choice for us, it has for sure not been an easy one to come to terms with," the blog entry signed by "Chip and Jo" reads. "Our family has grown up alongside yours, and we have felt you rooting us on from the other side of the screen. How bittersweet to say goodbye to the very thing that introduced us all in the first place."
