HGTV’s Alison Victoria Hits Back at Online Bullies: ‘My Flame Won’t Go Out’
HGTV star Alison Victoria has fired back at online bullies, saying that while hurtful comments can leave a mark, she won’t let her flame go out.
Victoria, who is known for her shows Scariest House in America, Battle on the Beach, Windy City Rehab, and the upcoming Sin City Rehab, opened up about facing criticism in a recent interview with Us Weekly.
“I think that with anyone — whether you’re in the public eye or not — when something hurts, you can either be crippled by it, or you can be empowered by it,” she said. “Stuff stings and it makes you second guess yourself.”
Victoria was referencing the headline of a recent article she saw while at the airport this past weekend. The interior designer said the headline read, “Why Some HGTV Fans Seriously Can’t Stand Alison Victoria.”
“I told myself years ago that I wasn’t going to let anyone dim my light, and unfortunately, an article like that will, and it sucks,” she shared. “My flame won’t go out, but it’s awful to read.”
The article in question was posted by TheList.com, which referenced a 2021 Reddit thread where a user wrote, “Am I the only one who can’t stand Alison Victoria?” The same user went on to call Victoria “obnoxious,” “angry,” and “unpleasant to watch.”
Victoria said the criticism can hurt because she is putting her real self out there for others to judge. “I do reality television, which means the person that you see on those shows like Windy City Rehab and my soon to be show Sin City Rehab, that is reality,” she explained. “That’s as real as reality gets. But that’s who I am to my core. People are seeing me for me.”
The host said people need to have more empathy, noting, “Understand that the person on the other side is going through some sort of pain because it takes someone in pain to want to inflict pain on others. ‘If I hurt, then I’m going to hurt someone else.'”
“And that’s a very vindictive way to live,” she added. “If you stop and you put yourself in that person’s shoes and you look at it from the outside, you can kind of feel their hurt, and you almost feel bad for them. When you feel bad for somebody, you have empathy.”
Sin City Rehab, TBA, HGTV
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Allison Victoria is a success story. She’s a great designer. I will watch whatever show she’s in. Unfortunately, there are lots of people with mean hearts and negativity in their souls and are threatened by an outspoken woman. Just keeping doing you, Girl!!!
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Allison is my favorite designer. I can't wait to see what she does next!
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Allison is a very talented interior designer but I don't think her personality matches her design talent
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Mickey Mouse would have been a better choice
All those other HGTV stars and you pick her?
Won’t be watching this or as in the past any show she’s on.
All those other cancelled shows and now this?
HGTV is trying to fail bigly.
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Alison Victoria is taking no responsibility for her often caustic behavior. If she doesn't want to see disparaging headlines she should learn to be more gracious while the cameras are rolling or be a part of the editing process.
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I'm watching Sin City Rehab right now and just got to the part where she's with her boyfriend reading the negative article. Since the first episode of Windy City, I immediately thought Alison's personality was abrasive. I've worked with a lot of contractors, and the way she speaks to people is not conducive to a pleasant, positive working relationship. She interrupts, she is very defensive, her word choices are abrupt and incendiary. Even the way she introduces her cousin, whom she loves enough to hire--is degrading. While Alison's style is interesting, and I enjoy looking at the reveals, I almost always fast forward through the entire episode because her demeanor is very off-putting. Also, her continuing anxiety about the Chicago property that still has not sold as of February 2026, is frustrating as well as distressing. The reason It hasn't sold has little to do with not passing an inspection, but rather the absolutely horrifically bad location. Why she would have invested in that in the first place shows she has emotional and therefore questionable judgment. I understand that she feels bad about the criticism. But if she says that's who she really is on these reality shows.... then she's got some inner work to do. Because viewers are not wrong: she has a strongly unpleasant persona.
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Alison has done rock the block before and is a veteran at this. She would know if favors are allowed. I’ve heard others use the same lingo before. I love Alison and Michel, and although something else needed to be done in front of the container and a kitchen area by deck, fence around all the yards, she is amazing! ❤️ People jump on the negative and it’s simply mean spirited! Be kind or don’t say anything. I love all of HGTV. Love you Alison!!!💗
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