Nationwide — Nicole Curtis, the host and star of HGTV’s Rehab Addict, is under fire after a video showed her using a racial slur on set. The network immediately responded by firing Curtis, canceling her show, and removing it from all platforms. Fans are reacting strongly, questioning her apology and past behavior.
According to TV Insider, the clip surfaced on February 11, the same day Season 9 was set to return. In it, Curtis struggled with wiring during a renovation and blurted out the N-word. She immediately realized her mistake, saying, “What the f*** is that I just said?” and asked someone off camera to “kill that” footage.
HGTV responded quickly, calling the comment offensive and inconsistent with the network’s values. “We have removed the series from all HGTV platforms,” the network said, emphasizing its commitment to respect and inclusion across its content and workplace.
Curtis issued a statement apologizing for the remark, saying, “I want to be clear: the word in question is wrong and not part of my vocabulary and never has been, and I apologize to everyone.” She also thanked HGTV for 15 years on the network and said she is now focusing on her relationships and community rather than her career.
Despite the apology, fans were critical, sharing messages on social media.
“Good, now you will have more time to be a mom. A racist mom nonetheless,” one Instagram message read.
“She says it like it’s some cute thing she always says when she’s mad. Racism so ingrained it doesn’t even register in her brain,” another wrote on Reddit.
Curtis had been hosting Rehab Addict since 2010. Season 9 returned in June 2025 but aired only two episodes before a hiatus. The remaining episodes were scheduled to air on the day the video leaked, bringing her long-running HGTV series to an abrupt end.