- Magnolia has pulled its series “Home Work”Two days after the cable network’s premiere,
- The show featured homeowners who claimed Andy Meredith, Candis, and their house were destroyed.
- They stated that renovations exceeded budget by tens or thousands of dollars, and were not finished in certain cases.
Magnolia Network, run by Chip and Joanna Gaines, is eliminating a show it has just two days following its launch on Discovery+.
“Home Work”After the couple’s renovations of a school into their home and their work with other homes in their region, Candis Meredith and Andy Meredith were set to star on The Bachelorette. as People reported. The original idea for the show was Joanna Gaines. “Fixer Upper,” Decider.
But “Home Work”The network was removed from the series after homeowners who appeared on the series claimed that the Merediths had caused damage to their homes and that renovations exceeded budget in some cases.
Insider received a statement from the Merediths denying the allegations. Magnolia Network President Allison Page confirmed that Magnolia Network pulled the show from its schedule and stated it was looking into the allegations made against the couple.
Noam Galai / Stringer Getty Images
Aubry Bennion believes that working with Merediths has resulted in a number of issues
Bennion, a Utah homeowner, shared her experience with the series. An 18-post Instagram story about her experienceon Wednesday.
Bennion In an Instagram post, wroteMerediths initially said to her that they could renovate her kitchen within three weeks for $20,000. Bennion shared that the Merediths initially told her they could renovate her kitchen in three weeks for $20,000.
But the process ended up taking five months, Bennion said, adding that it cost her over $39,000 — with much of that money spent on fixing issues created during the renovation, according to the homeowner.
Bennion wrote the following Another Instagram postThe deck was added by the Merediths to her back kitchen. However, they did so over a sprinkler system which created drainage issues. Bennion stated that her home nearly flooded due to the deck. It also decreased her home’s market value. Insider was told by Bennion that she had to spend $18,000 to fix it.
Bennion stated that she was not given a budget by the Merediths during the renovation, despite multiple requests.
Bennion claimed that she spoke to Candis about problems she was having with the renovations. Candis often responded with excuses or promises of things being delivered the next day. Bennion claims that these promises were rarely fulfilled.
According to the homeowner, she reached out for assistance from Magnolia Network producers during her renovation. Candis was referred by them. “stern talking to” after her call, According to Bennion’s Instagram postBut, no real change was made.
Bennion claimed that Chip and Joanna had earned her trust through building a professional relationship via Magnolia Market.
“I want Magnolia to be accountable,”She said. “It’s mind-blowing to me that they would put Magnolia’s name and reputation on the line or that they would allow these people to represent them without any sort of oversight or mentoring.”
Other guests on the show have similar stories.
Bennion told her story after Bennion. “Home Work”Teisha Hawley, homeowner, described her experience with Merediths.
Hawley wrote about InstagramShe and Jeff Meredith gave $45,000 to the Merediths to renovate their home in just four weeks. Ten weeks later, after little work had been done to their home, the Merediths stated to the Hawleys that an additional $40,000 would be needed to make the project successful. Follow-up postShared via Hawley’s Instagram.
“Hopeless is the word that comes to mind when I think of that day,”Hawley wrote the caption for the same post about his experience.
“We had been living in our basement for months at this point including Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays,”Later, they added the caption. “We were exhausted, we had just been told all of our funds were used and our home was torn apart with bubbling floors laid.”
In another Instagram postThe Hawleys stated that they told Merediths they would not be coming back after they requested additional money and they decided to fix their house without their assistance.
“People with ‘celebrity’ status can’t have power over others just because they feel like they can,”Insider heard from Hawley, who added that “the Magnolia name (as well as Chip and Jo’s)”They were given “a sense of safety and security”In working with the Merediths.
“There are many families and even businesses that have been harmed by these people,”She added, referring to the Merediths. “It all needs to be put to an end.”
Rob Goates and Vienna also shared their stories “Home Work”Instagram: Friday experience
Five children were born to the Goateses.Instagram postThey gave $50,000 to the Merediths for the $100,000 renovation that they planned on doing on their home in February 2020. Candis had asked the Goateses for money in order to make deposits for subcontractors to work on Candis’s home.
According to Another Instagram postThe Goateses were not able to start work on their home for months. Candis, however, told Candis that she would pay for the renovations. Candis was supported by the Gaineses, so the couple tried to give Candis the benefit-of-the doubt.
“We had faith in the reputation of Chip and Joanna and their beloved Magnolia brand and Candis’s repeated assurances that everything would work out,” Vienna wrote on Instagram.
Insider was told by the Goateses that even though Merediths had started work on their home in September 2020, they still hadn’t received their money. They said Candis agreed to pay them back, but she kept delaying payments — even after the couple hired a lawyer.
According to the Goateses, this is the most recent information. InstagramThe Merediths paid $14,000 of the $50,000 they owe.
Insider was told by the Goateses that although they were hesitant to speak out about their allegations, it felt like the only choice. “We’ve been doing everything in our power to resolve this privately for the last two years,” Vienna said. “We got a lawyer. We went through all the proper channels. We tried our best, and it just never happened.”
They said that they had also reached out to Discovery+ lawyers, but that the lawyer was unavailable. “brushed off”They are their concern.
“They said that ‘we believe that they intend to repay you and you’ve already got a lawyer involved, so we don’t feel that this is something we need to get involved with,'”Vienna spoke of her email exchanges with the lawyer.
“The knowledge that we’re in the right here, that we were kind and that we always took the high road, is some comfort,”The Goateses wrote an Instagram post PostLearn more about the experience. “That kindness and our extreme patience were taken advantage of, and that is such a huge violation that we feel so deeply, but our consciences are clear, and that’s no small thing.”
Magnolia Network states it is looking into the claims against the Merediths. The couple however denies the allegations
Insider was provided with a statement by Allison Page, president of Magnolia Network. She confirmed that Merediths’ show would be removed from the network.
“Magnolia Network is aware that certain homeowners have expressed concerns about renovation projects undertaken by Candis and Andy Meredith,”The statement was as follows: “Within the last day, we have learned additional information about the scope of these issues, and we have decided to remove ‘Home Work’ from the Magnolia Network line up pending a review of the claims that have been made.”
Insider also reported that the statement was made. Shared on InstagramThe Merediths refuted the claims made by the Hawleys (and the Goateses) and Bennion.
“Although we cannot speak for anyone but ourselves, we can say that we have always tried to give everything we have to make anyone we work with happy,”The couple also wrote that they were in love and added that they “adamantly deny”They took money from clients.
“It is true that we are sometimes left with outstanding balances, but we always pay, even if it takes some time for us to make arrangements,”The statement was read.
Insider was also provided with a link by the Merediths to a A satisfied client’s Instagram page. @hotcocoareads is the user who shared photos of a reading cabin designed by the pair and wrote that “Andy and Candis did beautiful work”And that, even though the project “took longer than I hoped, I ultimately feel that Candis truly wanted me to love the space.”
@hotcocoareads/Instagram
The Merediths also raised questions about the timing of the public allegations in their statement. They claimed that the claims were made the week before their show was supposed premiere. “hurt us the most.”
“The fact that this story is coming out now is extremely calculated,”They added. “One day we may have the courage to put everything out publicly, to defend ourselves against the ‘Instagram mafia’ that was called up. But in this moment, we know that anything we say will only be turned against us and hurt so many more.”