Chip Gaines has stood by the decision to air an episode featuring a gay couple. The couple will appear on “Back to the Frontier,” a new show produced by Chip and his wife, Joanna on their network, Magnolia. The show features families who agree to live life like people would have in the 19^th century. The episode in question features Jason Hanna and Joe Riggs of Dallas, a same-sex couple with 10-year-old twin boys.

Chip and Joanna Gaines have been a staple of Christian living throughout their popularity, so when the appearance of a same-sex couple on the show was leaked, the backlash was quick. Franklin Graham took to X to announce his disappointment with the news. “I hope this isn’t true, but I read today that Chip and Joanna Gaines are featuring a gay couple in their new series. If It is true, it is very disappointing,” wrote Graham. “While we are to love people, we should love them enough to tell them the truth of God’s Word. His Word is absolute truth. God loves us, and His design for marriage is between one man and one woman. Promoting something that God defines as sin is in itself sin.” Allie Beth Stuckey accused the couple of selling out. “You’ve exchanged the God of Scripture for the god of self, because you think that you are better and wiser than God is,” she said in a podcast episode discussing the controversy.

Gaines responded to the controversy on X. “Talk, ask qustns, listen.. maybe even learn,” he wrote. “Too much to ask of modern American Christian culture. Judge 1st, understand later/never It’s a sad sunday when ‘non believers’ have never been confronted with hate or vitriol until they are introduced to a modern American Christian.” In another response, he lamented judgmental attitudes. “’Christians’ have certainly come out in full force as if they do know. … ‘Judge not….’ ‘Love one another’ it’s not difficult,” he wrote.

There did seem to be some willingness, however, on Gaines’s part to hear some criticism. Joel Berry, managing editor for The Babylon Bee encouraged Gaines to filter out the vitriol and consider the reasoned approach of  his Christian fans. “You’ll see no hate from me. I’m just sad. I can’t let my kids watch your show now, since I’m trying to protect their eyes and hearts from the lies of the world—lies you’re now participating in,” Berry wrote. “We should love the sinner—that doesn’t mean we celebrate and promote the sin and participate in the multibillion dollar industry dedicated to destroying the family,” he later added. Gaines responded kindly, writing, “Don’t be sad Joel.. plenty of other stuff out there. I’m sure everyone will be fine,” he stated. “BUT I sincerely appreciate the advice about taking some of the thoughtful, heartfelt, encouraging constructive criticism to heart.. and I certainly will.”