The "Celebrity IOU" season premiere dialed up the emotion because of Leslie Jordan's death. Drew and Jonathan Scott talked to Extra after the actor died, and Drew explained, "We've known him for years... The moment you see him, he puts a smile on your face... Every day, he came to set wearing a different cowboy hat... It's such a deep laugh with him."
Drew added, "He was just himself, he didn't pretend to be anybody else. I think that's what was so endearing." Jonathan told Extra that, when he found out about Jordan's death, "it was one of those things that did not seem real."
Not only were the Property Brothers friends with the "Will & Grace" star, but Drew worked with Jordan on another project, "Trixie Motel." In July 2022, Drew posted a photo of himself carrying Jordan and posing with Trixie Mattel on Instagram. He wrote: "Who wore it best? Who got thrown in the pool? There's only one way to find out!!"
In an HGTV press release about the new season of "Celebrity IOU," Drew said, "Jonathan and I started this series with a simple idea — that nobody gets anywhere in life alone." He added: "We're grateful that so many household names have trusted us to be part of these personal acts of kindness and help give back to the people they value most."
In the end, Leslie Jordan's "Celebrity IOU" episode gave back to his dear friends — and gave the Scott brothers some precious memories.
