HGTV television personality Nicole Curtis has found herself at the centre of a significant controversy after a leaked video surfaced showing her using the highly offensive N-word racial slur. The footage, which appears to have been captured approximately two years ago while filming her popular home renovation series Rehab Addict, was obtained and published by RadarOnline.com.
Leaked Footage Reveals Offensive Language
In the disturbing video clip, Curtis, a 49-year-old historic preservation expert, can be seen struggling with renovation work as she attempts to remove wire from a frame. During this moment of frustration, she utters the phrase, "Oh, fart n*****." The recording clearly captures her immediate realisation of the grave mistake she has just made in front of the camera.
Immediate Reaction and Plea to Crew
Upon hearing her own words, Curtis is visibly shocked and is heard exclaiming, "What the f*** is that I just said?" She then urgently addresses a crew member named Nick, pleading with him to delete the damaging footage. "Nick, you gotta, you gotta, can you kill that? F*** my life," she says, demonstrating clear awareness of the severity of her comment.
According to the publication's analysis, the video appears to match scenes that were originally filmed for the season 10 episode titled Nicole Goes West, which aired in June 2025. However, this particular segment containing the racial slur was not included in the final broadcast version of the episode.
Background of Rehab Addict and Recent Schedule Changes
Rehab Addict first premiered on HGTV in 2010 and has been a staple of the network's programming, currently airing its ninth season. The series follows Curtis as she meticulously restores dilapidated historic homes to their former grandeur. However, the show has not been without its production challenges.
Last year, the programme was unexpectedly pulled from the air mid-series after only two episodes had been broadcast. At that time, Curtis explained the scheduling change to her fans via an Instagram post, stating, "I appreciate your support and understanding for the late notice. 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?"
She added her gratitude to network executives, saying, "Thank you to the powers that be at HGTV that were receptive to our idea." The show is scheduled to return to television screens on February 11, with episodes airing at 12pm and 1pm Eastern Time.
Curtis's Recent Comments on Production Style
Interestingly, just this Tuesday, Curtis publicly expressed her appreciation for her small, intimate production crew, which typically consists of just two camera operators and her construction team. She emphasised the raw, authentic nature of her show's production compared to larger television projects.
"We had squatters, drugs, human waste, the nastiest you can imagine and we ended up with the beautiful Doris house," she remarked, referring to one of her challenging renovation 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."
The Daily Mail has reportedly reached out to both HGTV representatives and Nicole Curtis herself for official comment regarding the leaked video and the use of the racial slur. As of now, no public statement has been issued by either party addressing this developing situation.
