If you visit Laurel, Mississippi today, it’s impossible not to feel the charm that drew Ben and Erin Napier to the national spotlight. The historic homes, cozy downtown shops, and Southern hospitality are now wrapped in the glow of HGTV’s Home Town, drawing fans from all over the country. And while many locals are proud to see their small town flourish, not everyone feels the change has been entirely good.

One local shop worker we spoke to shared a deeply personal perspective that sheds light on the real consequences of Laurel’s rise to fame. They’ve lived in Laurel long before HGTV showed up, and while they appreciate the economic boost and beautification the show has brought, they didn’t hold back on how unsettling some parts of that fame have become.

According to them, Home Town’s popularity has blurred the line between admiration and obsession. Fans have developed intense parasocial relationships with the Napiers — relationships where viewers feel close to public figures, despite never having met them. And in small-town Laurel, where everyone used to know everyone, that kind of attention is harder to avoid.

The worker described disturbing incidents involving outsiders crossing the line. One man, who wasn’t from the area, bought a house in Laurel and began stalking the Napiers under the guise of “protecting the women of Laurel.” He reportedly bought toys and made unsettling comments about Erin and Ben’s daughter, saying she could come over to his house and play. The situation became so serious that the Napiers had to seek a restraining order.

In another chilling case, someone came onto their property carrying an AR-15 rifle. Though details weren’t widely publicized, it was a breaking point for the family’s sense of safety.

As a result, the locals explained, the Napiers — once frequently seen walking downtown or supporting small businesses like any neighbor would — now spend much less time in public. They’ve even had to move farther outside of town for the sake of privacy and safety.

“It’s not the same Laurel we knew,” the shop worker admitted. “We still love it here, but there’s a tension now. You never know who’s watching.”

Still, it’s not all negative. Many residents acknowledge the upside: increased tourism has breathed new life into the local economy. Once-empty storefronts now house thriving boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. Property values have risen. There’s a certain pride in seeing your town featured on TV in a way that celebrates craftsmanship and community.

But beneath the glossy surface, longtime locals quietly reckon with the cost of fame — not just for the Napiers, but for the very soul of their town.

But fame hasn’t just changed the streets of Laurel — it’s also changed how some people view Erin Napier herself.

While many fans still adore her warm personality, creative eye, and commitment to family, there’s a growing conversation online about whether the Erin we see on Home Town today is the same woman who first captured America’s heart. Critics point out that over the years, she seems to have shifted from a modern, relatable Southern woman into what some are calling a “folksy caricature” crafted for television. One viral post summed it up sharply: “When she first started Home Town she was a modern woman Mississippian who went to college but loved her town, and she has evolved into this overly folksy caricature of a 2025 trad wife Mormon Scarlett O’Hara.”

The comment continued, “As a mom with kids who lives in the modern South, it’s so weird to constantly reference your mama or daddy’s anything—biscuits, porch swings, magnolias, sweet tea, rocking chairs… It’s like she’s morphing into a Southern lampoon to sell small-town life while earning millions that now set her apart from it.”

Despite the sharpness of that criticism, many locals and fans alike believe the real Erin hasn’t changed — but rather, her TV persona has been shaped by producers to fit the wholesome, nostalgic brand that Home Town sells so well. After all, while it’s called “reality” television, most viewers know it’s still a curated narrative. To many, Erin is still the thoughtful, artistic woman she always was — just one now navigating the complex role of being a brand ambassador, a mother, and the symbol of an entire town’s transformation.

So while Laurel has undeniably been polished and revitalized thanks to Home Town, there’s a deeper, more complicated undercurrent among those who call it home. For some, the cost of fame is no longer just measured in tourists or property values — but in safety, identity, and authenticity.