Why HGTV Fans Don't Like Home Town

Early in 2024, HGTV had its largest-ever monthly ratings increase, thanks in part to huge leaps in viewership for "Home Town." Warner Bros. Discovery reported that more than three million people tuned in to the January 14 episode starring Ben and Erin Napier of Laurel, Mississippi. It ranked as a top-five cable premiere. The Season 7, Episode 8 hit focused on finding and updating a 1970s home for a Seattle transplant who relocated to Laurel in order to be closer to family. 

"We all love to watch Ben and Erin welcome newcomers to their idyllic small town," said Loren Ruch, HGTV's head of content. "... It's feel-good programming." Ratings don't lie, and the stars enjoy a large fan base. But from disliking some of their design choices to finding the frequent sob stories featured on the show over the top, some HGTV fans just don't like "Home Town."

Erin and Ben Napier have made some controversial design choices since "Home Town" premiered in 2016. Fans hated the terra-cotta flooring in the episode "Chasing Waterfalls," which the homeowner liked and wanted to keep. In another episode, Erin described using wooden slats instead of solid drywall as "all about the negative space," but comments from viewers were less than enthusiastic about the toilet being exposed to the rest of the living space. Red paint has also caused controversy, both when the Napiers used it on kitchen cabinets in Season 7, Episode 18, and when they covered it up on a front door in Season 6, Episode 12.

No topic seems off limits when it comes to the polarizing couple, from political views to parenting choices. Several commenters on Reddit complain that Erin and Ben Napier are "cheesy," "overrated," or "dull" and raise questions about whether "Home Town" is really revitalizing the City of Laurel or just promoting the Napiers' store, Laurel Mercantile Co. "Home Town" isn't the only show that sharply divides viewers. Some HGTV fans don't like Jenn Todryk's "No Demo Reno," either. 

HGTV's "Home Town" stars have received so much criticism online, they've felt compelled to respond more than once. Recently, despite many fans being eager to capture Erin and Ben Napier's English apothecary look, others were turned off by them swapping a striped awning for an arched porch. Erin took to Instagram to address upset fans, explaining that the episode "was edited such that you didn't hear the part where we learned the cost ... would have made it too expensive to have any woodwork and larger trim inside." 

A few weeks later, the couple posted another video, seen above, addressing rude comments. "Y'all realize we design these houses for people who really live in them," Erin told fans. "... If you can't think of something nice to say about these people's homes ..." "Don't say anything at all," Ben replied. 

The couple is so concerned about online negativity, they started a project called Osprey to promote social media-free childhoods. Its mission statement explains, "Social media dulls our humanity. ... We hurt others with criticism we wouldn't share in real life."