US TV network pulls DIY show over ‘homophobic’ presenter
US cable TV network Home & Garden Television (HGTV) has cancelled an upcoming reality show after it emerged that at least one of its would-be hosts holds anti-choice and anti-gay views.
The programme, which was to be called Flip It Forward, would have centred on twin brothers Jason and David Benham as they tried to “help families find a fixer-upper and transform it into the dream home they never thought they could afford”.
However, this Tuesday (May 6) the Right Wing Watch website published a report highlighting David Benham’s extreme right-wing views. The report features an excerpt from a speech David Benham made at a prayer rally in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2012 in which he said that “we [America] have a homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation”.
Read the excerpt from the speech below:
“We have no-fault divorce; we have pornography and perversion; we have a homosexuality and its agenda that is attacking the nation; we have adultery; we have all of the things; we even have allowed demonic ideologies to take our universities and our public school systems while the church sits silent and just builds big churches. We are so complacent, we are so apathetic and we are very hypocritical in the church…”
The report also revealed that David Benham’s brother Jason had helped him to organise the prayer rally at which these comments were made – and that David Benham has led several protests outside abortion clinics in recent years.
In response to Right Wing Watch’s report, HBTV announced that it would be “reviewing all information about the Benhams” and has since confirmed on Facebook and Twitter that Flip It Forward will no longer be going ahead. See below.
Flip It Forward was to have debuted on HGTV this October.
David and Jason Benham have since supplied the following statement to MSNBC:
“Over the last decade, we’ve sold thousands of homes with the guiding principle of producing value and breathing life into each family that has crossed our path, and we do not, nor will we ever discriminate against people who do not share our views.
We were saddened to hear HGTV’s decision. With all of the grotesque things that can be seen and heard on television today you would think there would be room for two twin brothers who are faithful to our families, committed to biblical principles, and dedicated professionals. If our faith costs us a television show then so be it.”
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