HGTV’s Nicole Curtis apologized after she caught on camera using the ‘N word’ during filming of her series Rehab Addict, which was canceled Wednesday in the aftermath of the scandal.
In the incident leading to her dismissal, cameras were rolling on the TV series as Curtis, 49, had been working on renovations, removing a wire from a frame, prior to uttering the racial slur.
The Lake Orion, Michigan native was subsequently heard using the racial epithet in a clip published by Radar, saying, ‘Oh, fart n*****.’
On Wednesday, the preservation expert stressed that the utterance was a fluke, and she is not a person who uses the phrase, ever.
‘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,’ said Curtis.
Daily Mail has reached out to HGTV and Curtis for further comment on the story.
HGTV’s Nicole Curtis, 49, apologized after she caught on camera using the ‘N word’ during filming of her series Rehab Addict – which was canceled Wednesday amid the scandal
Curtis told the outlet that the network’s call to cancel the show – which had been slated to come back after a hiatus – caught her off-guard.
A spokesperson for HGTV told Daily Mail that it was aware of an offensive racial comment made during the filming of Rehab Addict.
They said: ‘We understand that language like this is hurtful and disappointing to our viewers, partners, and employees, and it does not align with the values of HGTV.
‘Accordingly, we have removed the series from all HGTV platforms. We remain dedicated to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion across our content and our workplace.’
Curtis told TMZ in the wake of the cancellation: ‘I’m grateful for the 15-year journey we’ve shared. It’s been a meaningful chapter, but my focus isn’t on my career.
‘My focus, at this moment is rightfully on my relationships, and my community – the people who truly know my character and where my heart is.’
In a follow-up statement she posted to Instagram, Curtis said ‘there is more’ to the situation, without delving into specifics.
‘There is more to this, but my family comes first and I need to be mom right now more than anything else,’ Curtis said. ‘I will take the time to be as I’ve always been with you, transparent and honest.
In a follow-up statement she posted to Instagram Wednesday evening, Curtis said ‘there is more’ to the situation, without delving into specifics
HGTV’s Nicole Curtis has been caught on camera using the ‘N word’
The Rehab Addict host begged her cameraman to delete the footage in a leaked tape
‘TMZ called me as I had just turned my phone on after being at school. I said this briefly, but there is more.’
Reactions to Curtis’ statement varied, as some were supportive, as one user said, ‘Nicole you do whatever you need to do. family comes first. ALWAYS. GOD BLESS you and your lovely family!’
Others poked holes in the explanation the TV personality gave for her use of the slur.
‘There is more? No, not really,’ one user said. ‘That word doesn’t slip out unless you use it.’
Another mocked Curtis in writing, ‘I’m sorry I was caught, I’m not sorry I said it.’
One user said, ‘Unfollowed’ with a middle finger emoji, adding, they were ‘a white woman that word NEVER “slips” because I don’t ever say it.’
In a video shared with RadarOnline.com, Curtis appeared to immediately realize the mistake she made, at one point trying to persuade the camera crew to delete the footage.
She said, ‘What the f*** is that I just said? Nick, you gotta, you gotta, can you kill that? F*** my life.’
Reactions to Curtis’ statement varied, as some were supportive – and some weren’t
Curtis has hosted Rehab Addict on HGTV since it premiered in 2010
The video was captured approximately two years ago and appears to match with scenes that aired in the season 10 episode Nicole Goes West, which aired in June 2025, the Radar report indicated.
The footage was not included in the final cut of the episode.
Rehab Addict premiered on HGTV in 2010 and had been airing its ninth season before it was shelved Wednesday following the incident involving Curtis.
The series followed Curtis as she restores crumbling historic homes to their former glory.
Last year, the show was dramatically pulled from the air mid-series after just two episodes.
At the time, Curtis explained to her fans in a post shared on Instagram: ‘I appreciate your support and understanding for the late notice.
She said, ‘It’s just a lot of hours (my hours) to get a show on air and we (my family +me) thought -why are we giving up summer when we have the ability to do this in the fall?
‘Thank you to the powers that be at HGTV that were receptive to our idea.’
The television personality gave a shout out to her production crew on February 11
On Tuesday, Curtis expressed her gratitude to her small crew, which is made up of two cameras and her ‘construction guys’.
‘We had squatters, drugs, human waste, the nastiest you can imagine and we ended up with the beautiful Doris house,’ she said on Instagram, addressing the results of one of her projects.
‘I’ll go to my last breath being proud that I did this more real, more raw than anyone else.
‘There’s never been 100 people, let alone, 25 people, even 10 people labeled production when I’m working. It’s me, it’s my construction guys, on big days (meaning there’s a huge build like roof going on) it’s two cameras, but most, it’s one.’
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