Nicole Curtis Responds to Backlash Over N-Word Controversy on Breakfast Club

Nicole Curtis is facing strong criticism after a video surfaced showing her using a racial slur while filming. The situation quickly escalated, and HGTV decided to cancel her long-running show Rehab Addict.

According to reports from the network, the series has also been removed from streaming platforms, including Discovery+ and HBO Max. Curtis recently appeared on The Breakfast Club radio show to explain what happened. She said the moment was a mistake and tried to describe how it happened.

During the interview, she explained that she sometimes makes up silly phrases when she is frustrated. She mentioned expressions like “fart digger” and “fart knocker,” and suggested that she accidentally mixed up words while filming.

Curtis insisted that “the word in question is wrong and not part of my vocabulary and never has been.” The hosts on The Breakfast Club were not at all convinced by her explanation.

DJ Envy questioned how the slur could have come out so naturally if it was truly a mistake. Charlamagne tha God also pushed back during the conversation and asked why Curtis decided to appear on the show after the controversy had already caused so much backlash.

As the interview continued, the conversation became tense. Curtis struggled to clearly explain the situation or provide more context for the clip that spread online. Many listeners felt that the interview did not resolve the issue and instead raised more questions about what happened.

At one point, Curtis also talked about growing up in Detroit and suggested that her environment may have influenced how she speaks. However, the hosts pointed out that this did not really explain the situation. They continued to press her about taking responsibility for the comment.

Before this controversy, Curtis had been a familiar face on home renovation television for many years. Her show, Rehab Addict, first premiered in 2010 and focused on restoring historic homes.

The series built a loyal audience and made Curtis one of the more recognizable personalities on HGTV. She had recently returned to television in 2025 after taking a break from the show for about three years.

At the time, Curtis said she stepped away because of personal challenges in her life. When the show came back, she described the new episodes as an “evolved version” of the series.

Now, her future in television is uncertain. Since HGTV canceled Rehab Addict and removed it from streaming platforms, Curtis has not announced any new projects. Industry watchers say it may be difficult for her to return to mainstream television anytime soon.

Curtis built much of her career around preserving historic homes, especially in cities like Detroit and Minneapolis. Whether she continues that work outside of television remains to be seen, but the recent controversy has clearly changed the direction of her media career.

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