Jason Oppenheim appears to be having a bit of fun at the expense of his Selling Sunset co-star Alanna Gold, following a controversy over her claims about owning a historic town.
On September 17, Oppenheim, co-founder of The Oppenheim Group, shared a video on his Instagram Stories where he is seen wearing a tank top emblazoned with the words “I own Pioneertown.” The humorous post comes amid fallout from Gold’s recent statements about purchasing the Old West town of Pioneertown, California.
Gold, who joined the popular Netflix reality series Selling Sunset for its eighth season, claimed on the show that she and her husband, Adam Gold, had bought Pioneertown. This assertion drew significant backlash from the town’s residents, who took to social media to correct the record.
In response to the criticism, Alanna Gold issued an apology on September 9, clarifying her earlier statements. “I want to reach out to personally say I am so deeply sorry for the confusion I have caused,” Gold wrote in her apology shared with PEOPLE. She acknowledged that her claim was inaccurate and expressed regret for any harm caused, explaining that her excitement led to the misstatement.
Gold also explained that while she and her husband have invested in properties in Pioneertown, including a home they call Cosmic Ranch, they do not own the entire town. “We wanted to become part of the community, so we invested in a home and other properties there,” she said. “I am so sorry to the people of Pioneertown; I would never want to disrespect the town’s history or its residents.”
The apology came after Pioneertown residents publicly denounced Gold’s claims, stating that her assertion undermined the town’s historical significance. The town, they noted, is owned by over 100 independent parties, with Gold holding a minor stake in a small portion of it. They clarified that she owns less than 1% of Pioneertown’s 640 acres, and her claim of owning the entire town was “verifiably false.”
Before her Selling Sunset debut, Gold had expressed her admiration for Pioneertown in an interview with PEOPLE, detailing her and her husband’s longstanding affection for the area and their desire to preserve its history through property investment.
Oppenheim’s playful post serves as a light-hearted response to the ongoing drama, adding a touch of humor to the unfolding situation.