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Mpls. Mayor Demands Apology From HGTV Host After Online Dispute

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges is demanding an apology from a cable TV host because of what appeared on Facebook over the weekend.

It all stems around the demolition of a house that HGTV's Nicole Curtis had been fighting for months to save.

HGTV Host Nicole Curtis Talks Online Dispute With Mpls. Mayor

Curtis protested the demolition on Facebook, which led to her fans posting negative comments aimed at the city council member who oversees this area.

People who live along Colfax Avenue South saw the Orth House as an eye sore, but Curtis viewed it as a historic treasure that needed some TLC.

Last week, Curtis recorded the demolition of the home, then took her thoughts to Facebook about how she blames Minneapolis City Council, specifically Lisa Bender since this is her district.

Curtis has more 700,000 Facebook followers. Her fans fired back at Bender, using a slew of hateful words. She said she can't monitor all of the comments on her page.

Hodges also took to social media and called the comments "appalling and disgusting."

Brian Finstad, who works for a local nonprofit that helped Curtis try to save the home, accuses the mayor of attacking Curtis because she continues to question the political process behind the home's demolition.

"I think it makes our city look ridiculous. I think somebody from the mayor's office concerning herself with comments on social media is just very frivolous," Finstad said. "I think it's something she could've taken care of easily in a private message if she really wanted to convey that message and I think she was just sort of political grandstanding on social media."

Curtis released a statement saying "Typically, these pages are bombarded by spammers for work at home schemes and porn. Unfortunately, there is not any technology to filter criticism of Minneapolis politics."

Curtis said she owns a home in the council member's ward.

WCCO reached out to Hodges on Sunday, but her office declined to comment.

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