In 2016, Ken and Kelly Downs had their house featured on the HGTV show 'Fixer Upper.' Hosts Chip and Joanna Gaines own a remodeling and design business, and help people turn their rundown homes into revitalized masterpieces.
For Ken and Kelly Downs, they wanted to find a space that would accommodate both of them. The couple married a few years ago and needed a larger space.
"We had to get out of his small bachelor's pad," Kelly Downs said.
They saw season 1 of the show and decided to go house hunting with the Gaines' real estate company, Magnolia Realty. The Downses found a place they loved and ended up being featured on Fixer Upper.
Before and After
"It was a really nice concept," Kelly Downs said.
Unfortunately, this past week, the Downses house was involved in a terrifying accident. A drunk driver plowed through the wall of their house, causing a lot of damage.
But here's the thing, the couple is now trying to say it's the fault of Fixer Upper for the accident, at least indirectly.
Continue reading to find out why the Downses are placing blame on Chip and Joanna Gaines.
"The yard is built up several feet, and he hit the embankment of the yard, apparently went airborne, and like a lot of older homes, this house was built up off the ground, so he cleared the rest of the yard," Assistant Fire Cheif Don Yeager said. "He didn't hurt the hedges, but he took out the railing on the porch and went right into the window of the front room and hit an interior wall that might be a load-bearing wall."
The car happened to hit the brick fire place installed by Chip and Joanna Gaines, which officials believe is what stopped the car from going further into the house and hitting the room where the Downses were sleeping. However, the couple is far from grateful.
"It's like the Wild West here. There's been a lot of commotion coming from the bars and the store across the street," Kelly Downs said. "It's been a problem from the beginning. We've lived here a year and a half and we feel deceived by the city of Waco and Magnolia Realty."
Downs believes Magnolia Realty shouldn't have shown them property in such a bad neighborhood, and believe they were deceived by the company. Downs says some people in the neighborhood resent the couple because of how it affects everyone.
"We have been intimidated and harassed," Kelly Downs said. "People have complained about their taxes going up because we moved here. Store owners have complained about taxes."
"This is what we've been saying. There's a big problem here. It's not safe," Kelly Downs said. "This is a "˜Fixer Upper' gone bad."
As of right now, the Fixer Upper team has not made any comments on the situation.
Do you think Chip and Joanna Gaines are at fault in this situation, like the Downses say they are?