Exclusive: ‘My Big Fat Fabulous Life’ Star Whitney Way Thore Stuns Dad Glenn With ‘Unbelievable’ Home Renovation

TLC star Whitney Way Thore took a page out of the HGTV playbook in the latest episodes of her reality series “My Big Fat Fabulous Life” by conducting a DIY renovation on her father’s home.

Sadly though, it seems Whitney, 40, may have a bit more work to do before she’s offered her own home flipping show, at least if her dad’s less-than-“fabulous” reaction to her work is any indication.

The reality star first set out to overhaul dad Glenn Thore‘s Greensboro, NC, property with her brother, Hunter, in an attempt to prevent him from putting it on the market following the 2022 death of his wife, Barbara “Babs” Thore. But while Whitney and her sibling had the very best of intentions, it looks like their plan may end up becoming a big fat fail.

In an exclusive preview clip from the Sept. 10 episode of the show, Whitney and Hunter are seen proudly revealing the results of a makeover they completed on a downstairs bedroom. The space once served as their playroom and, more recently, was used as a filming set for a viral video series called “107.5 KZL Fat Girl Dancing,” which Whitney filmed with her former dance partner, Todd Beasley.

However Whitney and her brother were determined to turn the space into a more aesthetically pleasing room that Glenn could proudly show off to guests and, ultimately, convince him that he should retain the five-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home rather than putting it on the market.

In the clip, Whitney voices her apprehension about the big reveal, telling the camera: “I’m really nervous because I have put in a lot of time and energy and money into this project and if my dad does not love it, then there is no possibility that he will reconsider selling the house.”

Whitney, Hunter, and Todd welcome Glenn at the garage, where things get off to a rough start. The Thore family patriarch doesn’t hold back when his daughter asks if he likes what they’ve done to the place.

While inspecting the two-car garage, lined with shelves packed to the brim with supplies and storage, Glenn retorts, “Well you haven’t done anything. You didn’t even sweep the floor.”

Hunter points out that the trio freed up additional parking space by hauling out about 20 bags of trash, but Glenn remains disappointed.

“Whitney has a real knack for cleaning and organizing things, but something has gone awry here in the garage because this is not her best work,” he says. “I mean, I was really expecting a lot more.”

Whitney defends their work to her dad, explaining “we were splitting our time” between the garage cleanup and “other concurrent projects going on.”

She tells her father, “We’ll be happy to show you the other thing we’re working on if you would like to see it.”

Once again, Glenn makes it clear he’s less than impressed.

“Well, I think anything will be better than what I see here,” he says as they head inside the house to see the second stage of the renovation.

As Whitney and Hunter take their places inside the remodeled room ahead of Glenn, we get a first look at the finished space.

The old carpet has been replaced by luxury vinyl plank flooring. The previously all-white walls and moulding have been color-drenched in a fresh coat of greenish-blue paint. And there’s a bed with fresh linens that’s flanked by a mixed-material side table.

A wooden, freestanding open bookcase peeks out from behind the brother-sister duo. Its accessories are intentionally curated: there’s a small collection of neutral-colored ceramic vases, a soft amber lamp, and framed family photos of what appears to be Glenn and Babs on their wedding day and other occasions.

The nearly floor-to-ceiling windows are now covered by natural-toned shades. And as the camera cuts to Glenn coming through the door, it unveils a brass-colored standing lamp and various floating shelves with even more personalized pictures in frames.

The formerly run-down room has clearly been modernized, and the clip concludes with a cliff-hanger of Glenn’s stunned face as he states, “This is unbelievable.”