Ty Pennington Hits Back with a Stunning Response After Body-Shaming Comments!

Ty Pennington is famous for being the handsome carpenter on *Trading Spaces*, the DIY show that inspired fans everywhere to try designing their own spaces.

After 20 years on TV, some fans are now suggesting that Ty should get a makeover himself.

Ty Pennington Hits Back with a Stunning Response After Body-Shaming Comments!

Ty Pennington is famous for being the handsome carpenter on *Trading Spaces*, the DIY show that inspired fans everywhere to try designing their own spaces.

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After 20 years on TV, some fans are now suggesting that Ty should get a makeover himself.

about:blank

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Born Gary Tygert Burton, Pennington, now 58, is known for his playful side. He loves sharing funny videos of his dance moves on Instagram, often with his new wife laughing in the background.

Pennington is a natural entertainer. He used to be a model for J-Crew and initially wanted to be a graphic designer, working in construction to support himself while he was in art school.

After a serious car accident at 27 ended his modeling career, he decided to switch to carpentry.

“I thought my career was taking off, but then I had a terrible car accident,” Pennington says. “I put away my modeling headshot, grabbed my tool bag, and went back to construction. Nine years later, I got a call to audition for *Trading Spaces*… and the rest is history.”

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Pennington first got noticed in Hollywood as a set designer for the 1995 film *Leaving Las Vegas*, starring Nicolas Cage. But it was his role as a builder on *Trading Spaces*—a show that changed how people think about home renovations—that made him famous.

After *Trading Spaces*, Pennington hosted *Extreme Makeover: Home Edition* from 2003 to 2012, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards for the show.

When Jesse Tyler Ferguson from *Modern Family* took over hosting in the show’s 11th season and for part of the 2020 revival, Pennington admitted on Instagram that it was tough for him. He felt his ego took a hit and started doubting himself. But he acknowledged that the job was never just about him and still considered it one of his best experiences.

Pennington didn’t let this setback stop him. He returned to *Trading Spaces* for its revival from 2018 to 2019.

Now, he’s a mentor and design expert on HGTV’s *Battle on the Beach*, which is in its third season, and he hosts *Rock the Block*, now in its fourth season.

Pennington has written two books: *Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories* and *Ty’s Tricks: Home Repair Secrets Plus Cheap and Easy Projects to Transform Any Room.*

He is also open about having ADHD and works to raise awareness about it.

In 2007, when he was 41, he was charged with a DUI. He was put on three years of probation and had to complete a 90-day alcohol program.

“Drinking and driving is never okay. I’ve admitted my mistake and will follow the court’s decision. I hope this experience helps others as much as it has helped me,” he said.

In November 2021, the popular builder married Kellee Merrell, a social media manager from Vancouver, who enjoys his daily funny posts.

Last year, after he posted a funny video of himself on the beach with his shorts hiked up, some fans criticized his now bigger stomach compared to his old six-pack abs. He responded with, “…by the way, I’m pushing my stomach out, but okay…”

The *Extreme Makeover: Home Edition* star, who still looks great, has faced negative comments about his age and appearance.

In a long Instagram post titled “Thoughts on Aging,” Pennington responded to the criticism he received. He reminded people to be kind to both men and women.

He wrote: “What started as a funny moment to make my wife laugh ended up being torn apart by strangers. With lots of views comes a lot of hate! Comments like ‘disgusting,’ ‘gross,’ ‘oh, he’s so old now,’ and ‘he’s gotten fat’ made me wonder if I’d get the same comments if I was still young and fit. There’s a strong movement to accept all body types and aging for women, which is fantastic, but maybe we should offer the same kindness to men?”

Pennington, known for *Trading Spaces*, mentioned that he was much younger when he first appeared on TV.

He said, “I often get comments like ‘What happened to him???’ Someone even said it’s due to ‘lack of exercise,’ which isn’t true. I work out harder than ever—seven days a week (being over 50 is no joke). What happened is that it’s been 22 YEARS since I first appeared on TV! No, I don’t have a six-pack or the same hairstyle, but I have gained wisdom, empathy, and life lessons. At 57, I’ve never been happier! I’m human and I have feelings. Yes, I’m older, but I think it’s pretty cool.”

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We think Ty Pennington is still hot and we love watching his silly Instagram videos. What is your favorite show with Pennington? And did you catch the DIY bug after watching Trading Spaces?

All of My Right Shoes Kept Going Missing – When I Finally Found Out Why, It Shook Me to My Core

All my right shoes kept disappearing, and I was at my wit’s end trying to figure out why. When I finally uncovered the truth, it was about something far deeper and more heartbreaking than just a missing shoe.

When I married Randy, I never imagined how much my life would change. His house was enormous, bigger than anything I had ever lived in.

A mansion in winter | Source: Pexels

A mansion in winter | Source: Pexels

It was the kind of place that felt like a mansion compared to my old apartment. But what made it feel like home wasn’t the size or the fancy furniture. It was Randy and Martha.

Martha was his six-year-old daughter, and she was the sweetest little girl. From the moment I met her, she started calling me “Mom.” Randy had been raising her alone since she was a toddler, and I admired how close they were.

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

A father hugging his daughter | Source: Pexels

Living with Randy’s family took some getting used to. His mother and sister lived with us, too. His mom, Evelyn, was the no-nonsense type. She was always busy with gardening, cooking, or knitting scarves no one seemed to wear. Randy’s sister, Tammy, was younger, still figuring out life, and spent most of her time on her phone.

At first, everything felt perfect. Everyone seemed happy with the arrangement, and I didn’t mind sharing the space. The house was so big, we could go hours without running into each other. But then, something odd started happening.

A big family dinner | Source: Pexels

A big family dinner | Source: Pexels

One morning, I got up early for my gym session. I was half-asleep when I went to grab my sneakers. I found one, but the other was missing.

“Where’s the right one?” I muttered, searching under the bed. Nothing. I checked the closet, the bathroom, and even the kitchen. Still nothing.

A woman searching for her shoe | Source: Midjourney

A woman searching for her shoe | Source: Midjourney

I ended up wearing an old pair of flip-flops to the gym that day. I thought I must’ve misplaced the shoe somehow, but it didn’t feel right. I always kept them together by the door.

The next day, it happened again. This time, it was my favorite pair of Birkenstocks. The left one was exactly where it should be, but the right was gone.

One single shoe | Source: Pexels

One single shoe | Source: Pexels

By the end of the week, it was a pattern. Every time I needed a pair of shoes, the left one was there, but the right one had vanished.

“Randy, have you seen my sneakers?” I asked one morning while he was sipping his coffee.

He looked up from his laptop and shrugged. “Nope. Did you check the closet?”

A smiling man with a laptop | Source: Pexels

A smiling man with a laptop | Source: Pexels

“Yes, and under the bed, and everywhere else.” I threw my hands in the air. “It’s like they’re disappearing. First my sneakers, then my Birkenstocks, and now my pumps. It’s ridiculous!”

He laughed. “Maybe the house is haunted.”

I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”

I decided to ask Evelyn. If anyone had seen my shoes, it would have been her. She was always up early, cleaning or organizing something.

A woman cleaning a window | Source: Pexels

A woman cleaning a window | Source: Pexels

“Evelyn, have you seen my shoes? The right ones keep disappearing.”

She looked up from her knitting. “Your shoes? No, I haven’t seen them. Are you sure you didn’t leave them somewhere?”

“Absolutely not.”

She shook her head. “Maybe it’s Martha? Kids are sneaky.”

Martha? The thought hadn’t crossed my mind. She was always playing around, but I couldn’t imagine her hiding my shoes.

A puzzled woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A puzzled woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

“Martha,” I said that evening as I tucked her into bed, “have you been playing with my shoes?”

She looked up at me with big, innocent eyes. “No, Mom. I didn’t touch them.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I promise.”

Her answer seemed genuine, so I let it go. But the next morning, when another right shoe disappeared, I knew something wasn’t right.

An awkward suspicious woman | Source: Freepik

An awkward suspicious woman | Source: Freepik

One afternoon, while searching for an old film camera in the pantry, I stumbled on something odd. Behind a stack of boxes was a dusty suitcase, half-open.

“What’s this?” I said to myself, pulling it out.

When I opened it, my heart dropped. Inside were all my missing shoes, neatly stacked.

“What in the world…” I whispered, staring at the bizarre collection.

A suitcase filled with single shoes | Source: Midjourney

A suitcase filled with single shoes | Source: Midjourney

My confusion turned to suspicion. The suitcase wasn’t mine, but I recognized it. It belonged to Evelyn.

I carried it to the living room, my chest tight with frustration and disbelief. Evelyn was sitting in her usual chair, sipping tea.

“Evelyn,” I said, holding up the suitcase, “can you explain this?”

Her brow furrowed. “Explain what?”

A surprised middle-aged woman | Source: Pexels

A surprised middle-aged woman | Source: Pexels

I opened the suitcase, showing her the shoes. “These. Why are my shoes in your suitcase?”

She stared at the shoes, then back at me, her face a mixture of confusion and defensiveness. “I have no idea. I’ve never seen them before.”

“How could you not know? It’s your suitcase!”

Evelyn set her tea down and crossed her arms. “I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t do this.”

A woman arguing with her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A woman arguing with her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

Her tone was firm, but I didn’t know what to believe.

Frustrated and exhausted, I knew there was no more guessing. I needed answers. That evening, I called everyone into the living room. The suitcase of shoes sat in the center of the coffee table like a piece of evidence at a crime scene.

Randy arrived first, looking confused. “What’s this about?” he asked, gesturing to the suitcase.

A puzzled confused man | Source: Freepik

A puzzled confused man | Source: Freepik

“I found my missing shoes,” I said firmly. “And I want to know who’s responsible.”

Evelyn walked in next, her expression already defensive. Tammy followed with earbuds in, scrolling on her phone. Martha trailed behind them, clutching her stuffed bunny.

I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “I’ve been losing my right shoes for weeks. This morning, I found all of them hidden in Evelyn’s suitcase in the pantry.”

A woman talking in the living room | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking in the living room | Source: Midjourney

Evelyn threw her hands up. “And I already told you, I don’t know how they got there! I don’t even go in the pantry except to grab flour.”

“Then who?” I asked, scanning the room. My voice wavered slightly, and I hated how desperate I sounded. “Someone in this house has been messing with me, and I need to know why.”

A puzzled woman in the living room | Source: Midjourney

A puzzled woman in the living room | Source: Midjourney

Randy stepped forward, his brow furrowed. “Let’s not jump to conclusions,” he said, his tone calm but firm. “We’ll figure this out.”

Tammy looked up from her phone, finally catching on. “Wait, are you accusing us of stealing your shoes? That’s crazy.”

“I’m not accusing anyone,” I shot back. “I just need the truth.”

A young woman on her phone | Source: Pexels

A young woman on her phone | Source: Pexels

The room went silent. The weight of the unspoken filled the air. Then, just as I was about to speak again, a small voice broke through the tension.

“It was me.”

I turned toward Martha, stunned. She stood near the doorway, tears streaming down her face, clutching her stuffed bunny tighter.

“What?” I whispered.

A crying girl near her dollhouse | Source: Pexels

A crying girl near her dollhouse | Source: Pexels

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice trembling. “I took them. I didn’t mean to make you upset. Please don’t be mad.”

I blinked, trying to process her words. “You… took my shoes? Why, Martha?”

She looked down at the floor, twisting the bunny’s ear in her tiny hands. “I thought… if you didn’t have shoes, you couldn’t leave. You’d have to stay with me.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut.

A shocked woman | Source: Pexels

A shocked woman | Source: Pexels

“Oh, honey…” Randy knelt beside her, his voice soft and gentle. “Why would you think she’d leave?”

Martha looked up at him, her face crumpling with fresh tears. “Because Mommy left. She didn’t say goodbye. She just… went away.”

The room grew still. Randy’s face was pale, his eyes glistening. Evelyn wiped at her own eyes with a tissue.

Martha turned to me, her little voice breaking. “I don’t want you to leave, too.”

An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney

An upset little girl | Source: Midjourney

I dropped to my knees in front of her, my chest aching. “Sweetheart,” I whispered, pulling her into my arms. “I’m not going anywhere. I promise you.”

She buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing quietly.

For a long moment, no one spoke. The weight of Martha’s pain hung heavy in the air.

Shocked people | Source: Freepik

Shocked people | Source: Freepik

“I’m so sorry, Martha,” I murmured. “I didn’t know you were feeling this way. But you don’t have to be scared. I love you, and I’m staying right here.”

Tammy cleared her throat. “Jeez, Martha, you could’ve just said something.”

Evelyn gave her a sharp look. “Tammy!”

“What?” Tammy muttered, looking embarrassed.

A woman looking away from her phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking away from her phone | Source: Midjourney

Randy stood and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Thank you,” he said softly, his voice filled with emotion.

Martha pulled back, her tears slowing. “You’re not mad?” she asked, her voice small.

“Not at all,” I said, wiping her cheeks. “I’m just glad you told me. You don’t have to hide anything from me, okay?”

She nodded, sniffling.

A crying girl looking to her side | Source: Pexels

A crying girl looking to her side | Source: Pexels

As I tucked her into bed that night, I held her hand and promised her again: “I’m here, Martha. And I’m not going anywhere.”

Her small fingers gripped mine tightly. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too.”

A girl sleeping | Source: Pexels

A girl sleeping | Source: Pexels

As the house settled into its usual quiet, I sat on the edge of my bed, holding one of my reunited shoes. I turned it over in my hands, still amazed at how something so small had uncovered something so big.

I thought back to all the times I’d been frustrated, searching for shoes and feeling confused. In hindsight, it seemed so trivial. But for Martha, it had been her way of trying to protect herself from losing someone she loved.

A smiling woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

A smiling woman in her bedroom | Source: Midjourney

The lesson wasn’t lost on me. Love requires patience and understanding, especially in a blended family. It’s about paying attention to what isn’t said and listening with more than your ears.

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