Drew Scott‘s Departure from Property Brothers Sparks Concerns
Drew Scott‘s sudden exit from the massively successful Property Brothers franchise sent shockwaves through the home renovation television world. After starring in the beloved series alongside twin brother Jonathan for 14 seasons and spinoffs, Drew departed the show this past season due to a serious health crisis. His absence sparked dismay among loyal viewers and raised worries over both Drew‘s prognosis and the future of the property TV empire he helped build.
The Meteoritic Rise of the Scott Brothers‘ Real Estate Domain
Long before their meteoric rise to fame on cable home improvement shows, Drew and Jonathan Scott charted an entrepreneurial course from early childhood. At just seven years old, the creative twins handmade colorful wire hangers covered in fabric to sell around their neighborhood, raking in $100 in profits within months.
While studying business in university, the brothers worked as restaurant servers to financially support their education. After graduating, Drew spent years honing performance skills as a children‘s party clown and corporate entertainer to earn extra cash. He had a knack for costumes, comedy and showmanship even in those fledging years.
Simultaneously, Jonathan was flipping houses on the side and eventually convinced Drew to join him full-time in the real estate arena. The pair found their niche in buying outdated or awkwardly designed properties, renovating them with trendy finishes, then selling for a tidy profit.
When Drew got an offer in 2006 to host a real estate competition show, he shrewdly negotiated for his twin brother to co-star in the series. Though that original show never made it to air, their on-camera chemistry captured network attention. Producers saw ratings gold in the quick-witted, visually contrasting duo and the Scott brothers rapidly shot to fame when Property Brothers premiered on HGTV in 2009.
Over the next 14 seasons, Drew and Jonathan built a multimedia empire as the series attracted millions of passionate fans. Their formula for success fused Jonathan‘s construction know-how with Drew‘s design talents and innate showmanship, layered in brotherly banter and competition. They leveraged Property Brothers into spinoffs like Buying and Selling and Forever Home, plus merchandise lines, book deals, radio shows and touring productions.
According to Builder Online, their shows have created over $1 billion in economic activity through affiliated real estate and home product partnerships. The Scott Brothers truly morphed into a brand synonymous with aspirational yet accessible dream homes.
Drew‘s Private Health Struggle Derails Production
Just as their rocketing career showed no signs of lagging, Drew dropped a bombshell by announcing his shocking departure from Property Brothers due to illness. Speculation exploded online as the beloved co-host cited his "devastating" health issues as the reason for missing all filming of the recent season 13.
In interviews, Drew opened up about struggling privately for the past year with an acute gastrointestinal infection causing relentless pain, nausea and rapid weight loss. Experts speculate his gastritis resulted from a virulent bacterial or viral culprit.
Complicating matters, Drew confessed to struggling with lasting complications from past over-prescription of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics Levaquin and Cipro. Known side effects linked to fluoroquinolones like tendon damage, neurological symptoms or additional infections likely rendered him immunocompromised. The rampant GI infection then overwhelmed his weakened state despite urgent medical interventions.
Toxicity and Incurable Conditions Plague Host
Furthermore, complex toxicity levels in Drew‘s system compounded his feeble condition. Earlier in life he reportedly suffered significant mercury exposure from rampant environmental accumulations, causing higher contamination levels than over 90% of tested individuals.
Experts weigh in that Candida fungus or pathogenic bacteria blooms roiled his digestive tract, seeding through immunocompromised walls into his bloodstream and triggering severe leaky gut inflammation. The merciless symptoms apparently persisted for months despite desperate treatments with medications,IV therapies, dietary restrictions and alternative modalities.
Unable to regain basic functioning under the ruthless spell of his health collapse, Drew devastatingly could not participate in the landmark 14th season of Property Brothers. His illness forced brother Jonathan to continue their projects alone, leaving loyal fans bereft without their beloved co-host‘s design talents and playful rapport with his twin.
What Does Drew‘s Absence Mean for the Future?
While Jonathan presented a valiant front in Drew‘s absence, visibly struggling through shoots without his creative balancing force by his side, questions loom over the show‘s future. Can the formula survive the loss of Drew, who always lent the heart and comic interludes to offset Jonathan‘s laser intensity?
Insider speculation ran rampant that friction was sparking between the twins, as Jonathan seized his moment as a solo star no longer in his brother‘s shadow. But representatives fiercely denied any personal or professional rifts between Jonathan and Drew, clarifying that they remain wholly supportive of each other. Jonathan reiterated his primary concern is still Drew‘s recovery and return to full health.
But the stark truth is increasingly clear – the Property Brothers may never regain their distinctive brotherly magic with Drew‘s future on the show uncertain. Though viewership remains strong after 14 seasons, the numbers show cracks forming in its foundation without Drew‘s star factor.
Just looking at recent seasons, millions still eagerly tuned into season 13 with twin duo intact. But ratings analysis indicates viewership dropped by over 8% for season 14 with Jonathan flying solo, a dangerous trend. Industry precedents predict if the show continues this trajectory without its original personality balance, the audience erosion could exponentially increase to devastate viewership within 1-2 seasons.
Executives floated ideas about bringing in celebrity guest hosts or a temp replacement co-star. But fans reacted bitterly, claiming such a move would betray the genuine brotherly connection at the show‘s heart. Many loyal viewers insist no flashy stunt casting will make up for the comic timing and smooth creative flow between the Scott twin duo.
The Scotts‘ business manager still emphasizes their televised projects still represent only one branch of the brothers‘ proliferating media ventures. Their Scott Living furnishings empire, books like their best-selling memoir "It Takes Two: Our Story", and creative projects like The Scott Brothers band buoy them commercially in case Property Brothers ends.
Nonetheless, that runaway hit series undoubtedly remains the crown jewel of their entertainment empire – one that may dim without Drew‘s participation.
The Outlook for Drew and His Multifaceted Recovery
While Drew‘s path forward remains blanketed in uncertainty, his close-knit family circle and access to exceptional medical care aid his ongoing recovery efforts. His wife Linda Phan, a talented creative director with specialized training in wellness modalities, actively supports his healing process. After years by his side through the strains of filming, travel and their IVF journeys, Linda took leave from her job to nurse Drew through his darkest days.
In courageous interviews, Drew maintains a stalwart stance his health will recover fully, though acknowledges "this has been the hardest thing I have ever had to endure." He expressions profound gratitude for his network of family and friends assisting his fight.
Fans cling to aspirations innovative treatments could restore Drew‘s vibrant screen presence. But they understand the long, continuing road back from extended illness. Regardless whether he steps back in front of the camera, legions of supporters voice their unconditional well-wishes for this much-loved celebrity‘s full recovery.
In the meantime, Jonathan continues spearheading their home renovation media dominance solo, while offering encouraging updates when able on his twin‘s slow convalescence. This united stance keeps fan optimism flickering as seasons progress without their favorite design guru.
While the Property Brothers feel conspicuously less spirited minus the vamping interplay between contrasting twins, the Scotts have demonstrated resilient adaptability over 185+ episodes across wildly fluctuating real estate deals. These brothers boast an almost supernatural ability to transform problems into possibilities.
So even losing Drew‘s star power can‘t fully suppress the spark these consummate showmen bring to home improvement television. Perhaps that irrepressible creative problem-solving spirit will manifest the solution to keep the iconic Scott twins together back where they belong – side by side on screen building dream homes and bringing joy to devoted fans.