Nicole Curtis Apologizes After Racial Slur in Leaked Footage as Long-Running Series Pulled
Nicole Curtis has issued an apology after leaked production footage showed the longtime home-rehab star using a racial slur while working on a project. The revelation prompted the removal of her show from network platforms on the same day it was scheduled to return to the air.
Apology and immediate fallout
Curtis acknowledged the incident in a public statement, saying the word she used is "wrong and not part of my vocabulary and never has been, " and offering an apology to those hurt by the comment. She said she was unaware of the network's decision to pull the series when she made the statement and expressed gratitude for the 15-year run the program provided.
In the leaked clip, Curtis appears visibly frustrated while working on a renovation and utters the racial slur before reacting in shock to her own words. The footage prompted swift action from the network, which announced it had removed the program from its platforms, saying language like that is hurtful and inconsistent with its values and the expectations of viewers, partners and employees.
Context offered by Curtis' team
Representatives for Curtis characterized the incident as a "clear slip of the tongue, " noting the star had endured a long day on set. The statement explained she had worked for roughly 17 hours on the project with very little sleep, and that the utterance was a mistaken version of one of her familiar expressions. The team emphasized that intent does not erase impact and conveyed that Curtis is deeply saddened by the hurt her words caused.
Curtis also framed the moment as one point in a larger personal focus shift: following more than a decade on television, she said her current priority is her relationships and community rather than her career. She called the series a meaningful chapter in her life and expressed appreciation for the team and viewers who supported her work over the years.
What this means for the series and legacy
The show—known for historic home restorations and projects in and around Detroit—had been expected to resume airing new episodes the day the footage emerged. The network's decision to pull the program means those episodes will not appear on its platforms as planned, and the future availability of the series is now uncertain.
For Curtis, the controversy arrives after a long career building an audience around preservation-focused renovations and television work that brought attention to older homes. Her recent projects had included the restoration of a 1913 residence in Detroit and other local rehab efforts that featured prominently in promotional material leading up to the new season.
Moving forward, Curtis faces the dual challenge of addressing public backlash while protecting the relationships and reputation she emphasized in her statement. The swift removal of the series underscores how quickly networks and production partners can act when material surfaces that conflicts with stated values, and it highlights the broader consequences for television personalities whose off-camera conduct draws scrutiny.
The situation remains fluid: Curtis has apologized and her representatives have offered context, while the network has signaled the episode removal reflects a commitment to certain standards. How this episode will affect Curtis' career long term and whether the program will return under new conditions or remain off-platform has yet to be determined.
