The Patriot Post® · BuzzFeed's Backfire

Last week, as much of America knows by now, an article written by BuzzFeed’s Kate Aurthur took lovable HGTV superstars Chip and Joanna Gaines of the show Fixer Upper to task for attending a Christian church that still holds to the orthodox teaching that homosexuality and same-sex marriage are sinful. Then came the justified blow back in social and mainstream media against both the story’s journalistic value (there was none) and its Orwellian thought control.

One of the more stinging rebukes comes from the Washington Post, where liberal and homosexual writer Brandon Ambrosino calls out BuzzFeed for setting a dangerous precedent. Ambrosino writes one of the “concern[s] I have with the story is that it validates everything that President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters have been saying about the media: that some journalists — specifically younger ones at popular digital publications — will tell stories in certain deceitful, manipulative ways to take down conservatives. (And really, I can’t for the life of me imagine any other intention of the Gaines story.)”

All through this media-created firestorm the focal point of the original story, Chip and Joanna Gaines remained silent … until this past weekend, when Chip tweeted the following messages: “Regardless of our decision to make a statement about all this craziness, or not, I ask people please! Respect [BuzzFeed’s] @KateAurthur.” He followed up that tweet with the following on Sunday: “In times of trouble, you’ll find the Gaines family at church.” As a Christian, Chip appears to be following what Jesus taught — to love your enemies and bless those who persecute you.