HGTV features first-ever throuple on 'House Hunters'; viewers share praise, express shock

HGTV featured a three-person couple, or "throuple," for the first time on "House Hunters" Wednesday.

During the episode, titled "Three's Not a Crowd in Colorado Springs," partners Brian, Lori and Angellica ("Geli") were moving to Colorado "in search of a home with a master bath that can accommodate three sinks," according to a description on the HGTV website.

The house hunt had an extra layer of difficulty with only one week to "satisfy three very different personalities."

"Lori and I got married in 2002, and we have two kids..." Brian explained in the episode. "I understood from day one, even when we were dating, that Lori was bisexual... and so we evolved to a point where we were comfortable having another woman in our lives."

Geli said they met at a bar. 

"I didn't plan on being in a relationship with a married couple, but it just happened very naturally, organically" Geli explained. 

Brian said though the three partners are not married, they had a commitment ceremony in Aruba. 

In a statement provided to USA TODAY by spokesperson Chelsey Riemann, HGTV said, "We feature all homebuyers and living choices."

The episode elicited reactions from viewers on social media, with some praising the representation for polyamory.

Author Roxanne Gay praised it as a "Great episode!!!! Educational."

"'This is a couple's kitchen, not a throuple's kitchen' #househunters is making my whole night," user @TqwanaBrown tweeted.

"there is a 'throuple' episode of house hunters on (!!!)," user @natalieweiner shared in a series of tweets. "literally perfect television."

Others expressed their shock.

"Y'ALL THERE'S A THROUPLE ON HOUSE HUNTERS RIGHT NOW," user @MelHawk92 shared with a GIF.

In another tweet, the user added, "I was legit about to change the channel until I heard throuple. You have my FULL attention now lol." 

"This 'throuple' episode on #HouseHunters is blowing my mind," user @AllisonMY tweeted.

In a May Psychology Today blog post, Elisabeth A. Sheff  cites two studies showing that "4 to 5 percent of the population of the United States was currently involved in a CNM (consensually non-monogamous) relationship."

A Rolling Stone article on polyamory, which cited the same 4 to 5 percent estimate, also added that "20 percent of people have at least attempted some kind of ethical non-monogamy at some point in their lives," citing a 2016 study.

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