How Retta Accidentally Offended ‘Ugliest House in America’ Homeowner: ‘I Started Sweating (Exclusive)

Retta has been hosting HGTV’s Ugliest House in America for six seasons — but that doesn’t mean she always knows what will push homeowners’ buttons.

Retta, 55, exclusively told Us Weekly on Wednesday, June 11, about one experience she had where the male homeowner “might’ve been offended” by her critiques of his untraditional home design.

“It was a husband and wife and the wife was very excited to meet me. I think she was a Parks [and Recreation] fan and she loved the show and so she was really excited that I was there,” Retta recalled. “He was like, ‘OK.’ [And] I’m sure it was her idea.”

The TV host noted that she doesn’t know “anything beforehand” so when she makes remarks about each house it could ruffle feathers.

In this specific instance, Retta said, “Everything I commented on was something he had done after they had moved in.” She confessed, “I started sweating. I remember there was a point I turned to my producer, and I was like, ‘You’ve got to help me because [it’s] stuff that he fixed.’”

Retta remembered asking, “What is this ceiling?” and the wife replied, “Well, he put it [in],” joking she couldn’t catch a break.

After stepping into it one too many times, Retta said she wished the couple would’ve told her what they hated instead of her accidentally insulting the man’s style choices.

“Don’t make me [say it], because I’m fishing around,” she continued. “I’m like, ‘This is crazy.’ [And they’d say], ‘Oh, we just bought that.’”

Retta explained that after hosting the HGTV series for so long, she knows exactly how she’d fix them up — and which ones she would buy.

“I would buy any of them where it’s really just the décor [to update],” she explained. “Because some of them are — these people did their own DIY, so they’ve used concrete or they’ve used cinder blocks and it’s hard to demo that sort of thing. And that’s where your money’s going to go, just trying to tear it down.”

The Good Girls alum pointed out that when it’s “just old stuff” that needs to be cleared out, that’s the one to purchase. You just need “a little paint” and a “little throw rug,” Retta teased and you’re good to go.

HGTV’s Ugliest House in America is currently airing its sixth season and by the finale, the winner of the “ugliest house” title will receive a $150,000 Renovation HGTV designer Alison Victoria.

When it comes to what she thinks makes the “ugliest” houses, Retta told Us “they’re all ugly” if they make it on the show. However, it’s the flooring that usually gets her vote for the ultimate baddie.

She revealed that the homes that are “functionally” askew usually make her feel most uncomfortable. “When you have stairs that you aren’t sure are safe, one, don’t invite me. Don’t [ask] me to go up your stairs to go look at your house,” Retta said with a laugh.

The HGTV personality added that carpeting is her other pet peeve when touring a space. “Carpeting shouldn’t be in your home for 20 years. Certainly not. 30 and 40,” Retta declared. “And if it’s shag and you’ve worn it down, shag is not supposed to last that long. And yet you still have it. It’s still there!”

To see exactly what Retta is talking about, tune in to Ugliest House in America airing on HGTV Mondays at 9:00 p.m. ET.