The ‘Biggest Reason’ Chip And Joanna Gaines Quit ‘Fixer Upper’

Chip and Joanna Gaines will be leaving their hit series “Fixer Upper” behind after Season 5 ends next year, and they’re aware fans aren’t happy. After giving countless reasons as to why they decided to quit their HGTV series, the couple shared the “biggest reason” on Tuesday.

During a sit-down with NBC “Today” host Savannah Guthrie, Joanna and Chip opened up about quitting the show.

“I get that. We’ve kind of all grown together,” Joanna said of understanding why viewers are upset the series is ending. “On the other side, I feel like there’s so much encouragement,” she added. “Even though it was sad, it was also they get it. We have this young growing family and I just think that was one of the biggest reasons why.”

While the program makes it appear their projects are fun, Chip reminded fans that the show is hard work for him and Joanna. “I’m an idiot, I thought this was a get rich quick scheme,” he joked, saying they thought they could work for eight hours every month and be fine. “The emotion, the amount of energy that it takes to kind of pour something like this together... for Jo and I, every day we showed up to work we wanted it to be the real deal, we wanted to be authentic, we wanted it to be legit, sincere, that’s why people were drawn to it.”

When asked to address rumors that their relationship is the reason the show is ending, Chip said their marriage is just fine. The couple, however, did not address the report contract and money issues were a reason for parting ways with the series.

“We wanted to take a step back and focus on the thing that is absolutely the most important things to us in the world which is Jo and I’s relationship,” Chip said. “We’re as healthy as we’ve ever been but I just didn’t want to keeping pushing this envelope to the fullest extent.”

Why they don’t know if they’ll ever return to TV, Chip and Joanna said their experience filming “Fixer Upper” was a “joy.”

Watch the full interview here.

Prior to their “Today” appearance, Chip and Joanna were said to be leaving the series due to safety concerns for their four children, Drake, Ella, Duke and Emmie. Chip’s mother, Gayle, added to this by saying their children are a priority.

“[Chip and Joanna] earned some time to rest,” she told Closer Magazine. “They care very much about how their children turn out, and they are very well aware that spending time with them and investing in their lives is important.”

The final season of “Fixer Upper” premieres Nov. 28 on HGTV, but that doesn’t mean the couple will completely exit from the spotlight. Chip released his book, “Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff,” on Tuesday. The couple is also launching a home line with Target, Hearth & Hand with Magnolia, due to hit shelves on Nov. 15.