Nicole Curtis’ biggest scandals, including lawsuits and custody battles
Nicole Curtis has attracted attention for all the wrong reasons after dropping the ‘N-word’ in a shocking video, and RadarOnline.com can reveal that this isn’t the only controversy Curtis has found himself in.
The Rehab addict star was accused of failing to pay one of its subcontractors, which helped complete several properties for the HGTV show.
“It’s kind of declining and it’s sad,” said John Jepsen, per CBS News. “It’s a significant amount of money we owe and we just want to get paid for the work we’ve done.”
While a February 2015 invoice showed that Jepsen had attempted to collect $25,000 from Curtis, the TV show host disputed any claim that she owed him damages.
“John has been paid for all services performed and completed,” she clarified, accusing Jepsen and his company of leaving the construction site unsecured.
In a November 2017 interview with PeopleCurtis responded to comments about feeding her son, who was almost 3 years old at the time.
“I keep saying it’s not like he’s seven or eight; he’s still a baby,” she noted. “It doesn’t force kids to eat; it allows them to explore and gradually reduce it at their own pace.”
She added: “Every day I have to withstand criticism about my child being too old to breastfeed. But when he weans, it’s his decision. I truly believe it’s the child’s choice.”
The legal standoff between Curtis and the Detroit Land Bank began when she filed a lawsuit over property ownership in March 2021, claiming she had already spent “approximately $60,000 including a significant amount of time and labor” to repair the house at 451 E. Grand Blvd. She reportedly paid other costs, including “renovating, securing, insuring, paying taxes and maintaining” the property.
“Nicole is suing them for the money invested in the house,” said a representative from Detroit Renovations, Curtis’ company. “Nicole is still open to a solution, but the DLBA has refused.”
Meanwhile, the DLBA rejected the statement, saying Curtis had never been “the legal owner” of the property. It was alleged that she was “offered multiple opportunities to sign an agreement with the DLBA to renovate the house, which she declined”.
After a three-year legal battle, a judge awarded the house to Curtis and ordered her to complete the renovation.
“This property will now symbolize not only the continued need for historic preservation, but also the need for change to a system that is incompetent and corrupt. I am just one of a hundred homeowners wronged by the DLBA. I fought for all of us because I had the financial ability to do so where others did not,” Curtis said afterward. the great victory.
In February 2025, Curtis’ former “business partner” Jordan Garland sued her and Porte Cochere Production, LLC, after they allegedly refused to pay him for his work on the HGTV show. He was hired by the defendants to “provide services and content for the defendants’ television series and worked on the project from May 2023 to July 2024,” according to court documents.
After making a small initial payment, the company “decided not to pay him for his work or recognize his ownership rights, despite repeated demands.” [Jordan] with criminal charges.”
“Garland prays for judgment against the Defendants, jointly and severally, in an amount greater than $25,000, plus interest from the date the payments were due,” the document added.
In response to the lawsuit, Curtis explained that Garland was indeed hired to perform duties as an independent contractor; he was therefore entitled to compensation for his services and reimbursement of costs. However, she clarified that he had no ownership in Porte Cochere Production, LLC.
The case was dismissed on October 17, 2025, while a settlement conference scheduled for January was canceled.
In a shocking video shared by Radarthe reality TV star was recorded making racist comments during renovation work.
“Why? It’s the last one. Oh, f— n—–,” she blurted during filming. After realizing what she said, she asked the off-camera HGTV crew to delete the footage.
“What the fuck I just said? Nick, you gotta, you gotta, can you kill that? F… my life,” she added.
A source said Radar the video was shot two years ago.
“If something happens, we all know about it… these images ended up in the (production) community that ruined them,” the insider said. “You (Nicole) deserve everything you get. Treat us with dignity and respect, and stop making money off our backs… You’re a trash person.”
The next day, the network confirmed that they had fired Curtis for using the N-word.
“HGTV was recently made aware of an offensive racial comment during the filming of Rehab addict,” the network said The Hollywood Reporter. “This type of language is not only hurtful and disappointing to our viewers, partners and employees – it does not align with HGTV’s values. Accordingly, we have removed the series from all HGTV platforms. We remain committed to fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity in our content and in our workplace.”
