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Canadian twins Jonathan and Andrew Scott have carved out a niche for themselves in the world of home improvement television, captivating audiences with their ability to help families find, buy, and transform their dream homes on the hit HGTV series “Property Brothers.” In an interview with Variety in 2022, Jonathan shared insights into their production philosophy, emphasizing a respectful and collaborative environment. “You know how some producers yell at their crews? You’ll never find that on our shows, because there’s no need for it,” he remarked. “Everyone’s working their butts off to make something. We maintain our core values: quality, respect, families.”
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Despite their family-friendly image on HGTV, the Scott brothers’ public personas have been marred by a series of controversies, which have somewhat tarnished their reputations in the eyes of their audience. From altercations to legal battles and financial disputes, the twins have faced their fair share of challenges in the public sphere.
In 2016, Jonathan Scott found himself in the headlines for less than ideal reasons following a night out at Dempsey’s Public House in Fargo, North Dakota. As reported by TMZ, the HGTV star was involved in a bar scuffle after allegedly refusing to leave when the establishment was closing. According to a police report obtained by Page Six, Jonathan’s behavior escalated to the point where he reportedly asked, “Do you know who I am?” when confronted by staff.
Security footage revealed that Jonathan was initially escorted out but returned shortly thereafter, leading to another physical removal where he was reportedly placed in a headlock. In response, Jonathan called 911, alleging he was assaulted and placed in a “chokehold.” However, Fargo City Attorney Erik Johnson, as reported by CBS News, stated there was insufficient evidence for charges of assault or disorderly conduct to be pursued. Perhaps, in this case, the lyrics to “Closing Time” by Semisonic would have been apt.
Jonathan Scott was physically escorted out of a bar
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In another legal entanglement, 2021 saw Paul and Mindy King, a couple featured on “Property Brothers,” file a lawsuit against the show’s production company, Cineflix, and Villa Construction, the contractor hired for their home renovation. The Kings claimed that the renovation, which cost them over $193,000, was poorly executed and failed to meet building code standards. Mindy expressed her dissatisfaction to KTNV, saying, “They just come in and they bring a Sharpie or spray paint and try to make things look pretty, but they don’t.”
As evidenced by security camera footage, although Jonathan was promptly removed from the premises, he actually returned and was placed in a headlock before being physically escorted out yet again. Jonathan then called 911 and filed a complaint against the officer, claiming he was assaulted and put in a “chokehold.” Worth noting, however, is that nothing ever came of Jonathan’s unruly behavior or his alleged assault. “Upon review of the police report and associated evidence, I found there was not sufficient evidence to establish a violation of either simple assault or disorderly conduct … beyond a reasonable doubt,” Fargo City Attorney Erik Johnson said, per CBS News. Alexa, play “Closing Time” by Semisonic.
A couple who appeared on the ‘Property Brothers’ show sued the production company and contractor for subpar work
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Speaking of allegations, in 2021 Paul and Mindy King, a couple who appeared on “Property Brothers,” filed a lawsuit against the show’s production company, Cineflix, as well as Villa Construction, a contractor who remodeled their home (to the tune of more than $193,000), claiming that the work was subpar, haphazard, and not up to building code standards. “They just come in and they bring a Sharpie or spray paint and try to make things look pretty, but they don’t,” Mindy claimed during an interview with KTNV.
While Jonathan and Andrew Scott weren’t personally sued, their attorney swiftly released a statement shirking any and all responsibility and characterizing the Kings’ lawsuit as an “attempt to secure a substantial monetary settlement.” The statement concluded, “It is unfortunate that the Kings have resorted to such conduct.” Suffice to say, the statement didn’t do much to save Jonathan and Andrew’s reputation in the public eye, and it ultimately upset many HGTV fans. “I don’t know, those property brothers are sketchy,” one X user posted in response to a 2023 news article discussing the lawsuit, which is still ongoing. Perhaps this is one of the real reasons some HGTV fans can’t stand the Property Brothers.
The Property Brothers have argued over money
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From the outside, it appears as though Jonathan and Andrew Scott are about as close as two twin brothers can be. “It’s been exciting for us to be able to be the ones to hold the control, to be able to make the decisions, because at the end of the day, I trust Jonathan through and through,” Andrew told Variety in 2022 about their brotherly business partnership. “He’s not some stranger that I brought in with money to do something or vice versa,” he added. “We know we have the same values.”
Alas, in July 2025, during an appearance on SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live,” the brothers and business partners copped to having a past disagreement over money. According to Jonathan, he used to “film three more times” than Andrew and eventually suggested that perhaps he should be compensated three times more. (In the famous words of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” OG Camille Grammer, “But now we said it.”) “And he’s like, ‘You’re never allowed to bring this up again ever,’” Jonathan recalled. Meanwhile, Andrew was adamant that Jonathan’s argument wasn’t that cut-and-dry. Andrew claimed he did less filming because he was in charge of the contracts. “There’s a lot outside of what people see on the shows,” he said. And there ya have it, folks!
