“Married to Real Estate” fans were shocked when HGTV essentially gave Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson the middle finger, so it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise that the backlash has been massive. Though the couple has kept things classy, erring on the side of positivity, they also haven’t shied away from addressing some of the shadier details surrounding the cancellation, and let’s start off by saying one big yikes. 

Both Jackson and Sherrod hinted at underlying issues prior to the show’s end. Jackson cryptically noted, “If y’all only knew what we have to put up with and endure.” In a revealing joint interview with People, the couple shared that while the first three seasons were smooth sailing, the fourth took a dramatic turn. Sherrod described the season as feeling “very different,” pointing to clashing with a new production team that disregarded their input, despite the couple’s roles as executive producers. This lack of respect was a significant departure from their previous experiences.

Aside from the internal conflicts, Sherrod expressed her frustration at the lack of support from HGTV itself. In her conversation with People, she lamented how their attempts to communicate with the network were met with silence. “We weren’t getting advocacy or phone calls back or responses to emails to show that we had some level of support,” she explained, noting that this was a new and unsettling experience for them.

In addition to not feeling respected on their own production, Egypt Sherrod told People that one of the things that stung the most was that when they reached out to HGTV, they were essentially ignored. “We weren’t getting advocacy or phone calls back or responses to emails to show that we had some level of support,” she told the outlet, adding that it had never been the case in the past.

Added to that, there was also the fact that the show went through periods where production was halted, and that began impacting the rest of their businesses. For one, Mike Jackson pointed out, viewers had begun asking whether the show had been cancelled before it was. “For folks to question, ‘Are you coming back?’ That’s going to affect your ratings,” he said. Sherrod backed that up, and added that on top of the show itself, they ended up shelling out their own money to continue work with their clients. “This is our business and our reputation,” she pointed out — and given some of the scandals other HGTV stars have gone through as a result of slow work (or no work), her concerns were certainly valid. 

Despite all the dodgy goings-on behind the scenes, both Sherrod and Jackson clarified that their goal with the People interview was not to turn on HGTV or add to the drama. Even so, it’s safe to say their fans were not impressed with the channel. Taking to Instagram, several people said they wouldn’t be watching HGTV anymore — and over in People’s comments section, others concurred. “So disappointed with HGTV for letting the viewers down,” wrote one fan, adding that they would be happy to watch the couple elsewhere. We’re wishing Sherrod and Jackson the best.