HGTV announced it has canceled the long-running series Rehab Addict after a leaked on-set clip captured star Nicole Curtis using a racial slur during filming. The network said the language was “hurtful and disappointing,” and moved quickly to remove the series from its platforms; streaming copies on HBO Max and Discovery+ were also taken down. New episodes that had been scheduled to begin airing on February 11 have been pulled from the schedule. The decision follows publication of a video that circulated online showing the remark and Curtis attempting to stop the clip.
Key Takeaways
- HGTV has canceled Rehab Addict and removed the series from its platforms after an on-set clip captured Nicole Curtis using a racial slur.
- The full series has been scrubbed from HBO Max and Discovery+, with users reporting an error message when attempting to access the show.
- New episodes slated to begin airing on February 11 were taken off the schedule and will not air as planned.
- The show originally premiered in 2010 on the DIY Network and moved to HGTV for Season 4 in 2014.
- A leaked clip published online shows Curtis using the n-word and then asking to “kill” the moment, according to reporting.
- HGTV issued a statement saying the language does not align with the network’s values and that it is committed to inclusion and respect.
Background
Rehab Addict launched in 2010 on the DIY Network and built a niche audience by focusing on historic preservation over demolition. Curtis’s approach—emphasizing repair and restoration of older homes—became the program’s signature and helped the series move to HGTV in 2014 for broader distribution. Over more than a decade the show attracted both fans of historic preservation and a mainstream cable audience, creating commercial value across linear broadcast and streaming windows.
In recent years, media companies have faced heightened scrutiny for on- and off-camera conduct by talent, particularly when content circulates on social platforms. Networks have increasingly responded with rapid takedowns and cancellations when speech by on-screen figures conflicts with corporate policies or public expectations. For cable and streaming platforms, removing content can be both a reputational and contractual action, affecting advertising, licensing rights and future distribution agreements.
Main Event
According to reporting, a video from the Rehab Addict set was leaked online and shared by entertainment outlets. In the clip, Curtis utters a racial slur while discussing a project; she then appears to realize the remark and asks those filming to “kill” the moment. That audio and footage prompted viewers and platform operators to react quickly once the clip circulated.
HGTV’s statement, provided to the press, said the network had been made aware of an offensive racial comment made during filming and that the language does not align with HGTV’s values. The network said it removed the series from “all HGTV platforms” and emphasized a commitment to respect and inclusion across content and workplace culture.
Following the announcement, the show’s pages on HGTV’s website were removed and searching for the series on HBO Max and Discovery+ reportedly returned error messages. Discovery’s streaming outlets have not indicated whether removal is intended to be permanent or temporary while the company reviews the incident and any contractual implications.
Analysis & Implications
The swift cancellation underscores how broadcasters and streamers now weigh the reputational risks of retaining programs tied to offensive behavior. For advertisers and corporate partners, association with inflammatory language can prompt rapid distancing; networks often act decisively to signal standards and limit commercial fallout. Removing a series from streaming can mitigate short-term backlash but raises questions about archival access and content moderation policies going forward.
From a business perspective, pulling a catalog title affects multiple revenue streams: ad-supported playback, licensing windows, and international distribution deals. If the removal is permanent, rights holders and distributors will need to reconcile existing contracts and potential compensation claims. For viewers and preservation advocates, the move also touches on debates about whether cultural artifacts with problematic elements should be archived, contextualized, or withdrawn.
The incident may also influence talent management and on-set protocols across unscripted television. Production companies commonly include clauses in talent agreements covering conduct; networks may demand additional compliance measures, sensitivity training, or tighter control over behind-the-scenes recording. The case could prompt more explicit contractual language about off-camera behavior that affects public distribution.
Comparison & Data
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Rehab Addict premieres on DIY Network |
| 2014 | Series moves to HGTV beginning Season 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Leaked on-set clip circulates; network cancels series and removes it from streaming |
Removing a long-running title is less common than suspending promotion or removing select episodes. Networks often weigh brand impact against contractual and archival considerations; this table shows the program’s major distribution milestones and the point at which the removal occurred. The timing—just before new episodes were to air on February 11—heightens the operational and commercial impact for the network and production team.
Reactions & Quotes
“HGTV was recently made aware of an offensive racial comment made during the filming of Rehab Addict. Not only is language like this hurtful and disappointing to our viewers, partners, and employees – it does not align with the values of HGTV,”
HGTV, network statement (reported by press)
“Kill the moment.”
Phrase captured in leaked on-set clip
The first quote is the network’s formal response as shared with media outlets; it frames the cancellation as a values-based decision. The second short phrase—recorded on the set and circulated in the leaked clip—was widely cited in coverage as evidence the comment occurred and that production staff attempted to stop distribution of that footage.
Unconfirmed
- No public confirmation yet on whether Nicole Curtis will issue an extended public apology or statement beyond what has circulated via the leaked clip.
- It is unclear whether additional unaired episodes exist in post-production or whether all future production has been halted by the network.
- No official notice has been released about contractual or financial penalties applied to the production company or talent relating to the removal.
Bottom Line
HGTV’s decision to cancel Rehab Addict and remove the series from HBO Max and Discovery+ reflects a rapid response to an on-set incident that contradicts the network’s stated values. The move reduces immediate reputational risk for the brand but raises broader questions about how legacy content and unscripted productions are governed when off-camera speech surfaces.
For viewers, preservationists and the industry, the episode highlights tension between maintaining access to culturally significant programming and enforcing standards of conduct. In the coming days, observers will watch for statements from the star, any internal reviews by the production company, and whether the streaming removals remain in place or are reversed with contextual measures.
Sources
- Deadline — entertainment industry reporting (primary report on cancellation and HGTV statement)