Alanna Gold, a new star of Selling Sunset, has issued an apology after facing backlash from residents of Pioneertown, California, over misleading statements she made about owning part of the historic town.
On September 6, the eighth season of Selling Sunset premiered, featuring Gold’s claim that she and her husband, Adam Gold, had purchased a section of Pioneertown, a San Bernardino County landmark. However, her assertion that she owned the entire town sparked controversy among its residents.
In response to the backlash, Gold publicly apologized on September 9. “I want to reach out to personally say I am so deeply sorry for the confusion I have caused,” she said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “I certainly do not own Pioneertown. I never should have said that and I apologize for doing so. I did not mean any harm. I absolutely love Pioneertown and simply got too excited talking about it.”
Gold further explained that Pioneertown holds personal significance for her and her husband, as they had their first date and wedding there. “We wanted to become part of the community, so we invested in a home and other properties there,” she added. “Again, I am so sorry to the people of Pioneertown. I would never want to disrespect the town’s history or any of the people who make it such a wonderful place.”
The apology followed a statement from Pioneertown residents, who took to Instagram to refute Gold’s claims. The statement described her assertions as “baseless” and detrimental to the town’s 78-year legacy of film, arts, and cultural history. It emphasized that Pioneertown is privately owned by over 100 independent parties, with Gold holding a minor, non-controlling stake in a fraction of the town’s properties.
“Alanna has a small minority non-controlling interest in an entity that owns six of thirty-five parcels in the Mane Street area, constituting less than 1% of Pioneertown’s total 640 acres,” the statement clarified. “The claim that she owns the ‘entire town’ is verifiably false.”
In a previous interview with PEOPLE, Gold expressed her long-standing desire to be involved with Pioneertown. “When we saw a piece of the town was available for sale in 2020, we saw it as an opportunity to really make it vibrant again and preserve a piece of history,” she said. Gold highlighted that Pioneertown was originally created in the 1940s with the help of singer and actor Roy Rogers, noting its unique status as a functioning town rather than a ghost town.
Gold’s apology aims to address the misunderstandings and reaffirm her respect for Pioneertown’s rich heritage and its community.