The Reason Martha Stewart Was 'Taken Aback' By Chip Gaines' Comments

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By Christine Liwag Dixon/Jan. 28, 2020 12:33 pm EST

While it makes total sense that Martha Stewart would be best friends with Chip and Joanna Gaines given the fact that all three of them are home design experts, they're not very well acquainted at all. Just how little they know each other, though, seems to be a matter of interpretation. While the trio met last April at the Time 100 Gala, Chip said that Martha Stewart didn't seem to have a clue who the Fixer Upper stars were. "We were so excited to meet Martha Stewart, but she didn't have the faintest idea who we are, not a single clue," Chip told Page Six. "But we don't mind at all, Joanna was so excited to meet Martha and so we asked someone to introduce us."

Other than that, Chip said the meeting went well. "Martha was very gracious and supportive, it was really wonderful moment for us to meet her," he said. "And my gosh doesn't she look great!"

Martha Stewart, however, told the outlet that she did know who Chip and Joanna Gaines are, she just didn't recognize them right away. "I had never met Chip and Joanna at all before, but their Magnolia magazine is published by my publisher Meredith, and I know they have a lovely family and a TV station," she said.

Martha Stewart says she admires Chip and Joanna Gaines

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The incident came up in a January 2020 appearance Stewart made on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. Again, Stewart affirmed that she did know who Chip and Joanna are. "No, it is not true and Chip made a big story about it," she said. "I knew exactly who they are. I admire them, I admire what they've done. I was kind of taken aback that he made up that story."

Chip finally set his end of the story straight in a tweet following Stewart's WWHL appearance, although his statement seems to contradict what he previously told Page Six. "Dear @MarthaStewart⁩!" he wrote. "You inspire Jo & me on SO many levels! After meeting you at time100 we went back to our table on CLOUD 9 and said to Jo (JOKINGLY!) 'I'm not sure she knows who I am.. Ha!' Someone overheard & made a (dumb) story of it. -the end."