Nicole Curtis, the 49-year-old HGTV star from Lake Orion, Michigan, attributes her use of a racial slur during filming of her show Rehab Addict to a simple slip of the tongue. The incident led to the network canceling the series less than two months ago.
Curtis’s On-Air Explanation
Curtis appeared on The Breakfast Club radio show, where she clarified that she intended to say phrases like “fart digger” or “fart knocker,” habits picked up from her sons’ constant talk about flatulence. “Do you have boys? Boys talk about farts—all the time,” she explained. “I can’t swear on my show, so yes, I’ve made up these crazy words.”
The clip captured Curtis saying, “Oh, fart n*****.,” a moment that surfaced publicly and prompted swift backlash.
Hosts Challenge Her Defense
DJ Envy expressed doubt, noting the phrase “came out so naturally.” Charlamagne tha God questioned the logic behind “fart digger,” joking, “Fart digger sounds like you’re playing with a**holes all day—why? That’s another conversation—why would you be digging in random asses, digging for farts?”
Curtis stood by her account, stating, “I don’t have a rhyme or reason to the words that I make up—I say nonsense stuff all the time.” As a preservation expert filming reality TV, she described her unscripted style: “I’ll be editing my shows and I’ll be like ‘F***—just finish what the f*** you’re saying!’ ‘Cause I go off—I’m like this and that and I’m off the cuff.”
When Curtis mentioned living in Detroit with her family, Charlamagne pushed back: “So your best friends are Black and you live in the hood… What are you trying to prove here when you keep saying you’re from Detroit? I’m trying to figure out what you are trying to say.”
She emphasized, “I don’t use the N-word—or the R-word,” and added that she came for an open conversation, encouraging others to avoid inflammatory language.
HGTV’s Response and Curtis’s Statement
HGTV confirmed awareness of the offensive comment in January, stating: “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.”
Following the cancellation, Curtis shared: “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.”
