Alanna Gold is owning up to the fact that she does not own Pioneertown, as she previously suggested on Netflix’s Selling Sunset. “I want to reach out to personally say I am so deeply sorry for the confusion I have caused. I certainly do not own Pioneertown, I never should have said that and I apologize for doing so,†the real estate agent said in a statement to Us Weekly. “I want you to know that I did not mean any harm, I absolutely love Pioneertown and I simply got too excited talking about it. My first date with my husband was there and our wedding was at the Soundstage. We wanted to become part of the community so we invested in a home and other properties there.†Located in the California desert, Pioneertown was founded as both an Old West-themed movie set and a functioning residential community. Gold added that she never wanted to “disrespect the town’s history or any of the people who make it such a wonderful place.â€
Her statement comes a day after citizens of Pioneertown called for an apology from Gold and Selling Sunset, writing in a collective Instagram statement that Gold’s claim “undermines 78 years of internationally celebrated film, arts and cultural history.†Gold previously also said in a People interview that she and her husband had learned that a “large portion†of the desert town was for sale in 2020, and viewed their subsequent purchase as “an opportunity to save Pioneertown†and its rich history. “Pioneertown is a mile-square census designated community with over 400 residents and is privately owned by more than 100 independent parties,†the people of Pioneertown’s joint statement clarifies. “Mrs. Gold 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 claim that she owns the ‘entire town’ is verifiably false.†Ooh, wonder how awkward the next neighborhood get-together is gonna be.