Tarek and Christina El Moussa, stars of the iconic HGTV show Flip or Flop, announced their separation in December 2016, despite putting on a united front on the show. What became of this once-famous television couple? As it turns out, there may have been more issues than initially believed.
Tarek filed for divorce from Christina in January 2017, citing the ever-dependable “irreconcilable differences” and asking for joint custody of their son, Brayden, and daughter, Taylor, according to TMZ.
Christina reportedly filed a response petition in August 2017, citing “irreconcilable disagreements” and joint custody, People said. Although most of the divorce arrangement has remained confidential, a source told TMZ that the breakup was amicable “Civilized, or as civilized as possible in the circumstances. They must make it work to continue monetizing their effort.”
However, concerns linger about the genuine reasons for the divorce and the underlying dynamic between the co-stars, who are still working together on their program as of this writing. Take a look.
A Massive Police Presence Was Dispatched to Their Residence.
According to TMZ, in May 2016, police responded to a report at the El Moussas’ Orange County, Calif., home with a “huge presence” that included a helicopter and 11 deputies. Tarek allegedly stole a gun from a safe and ran out the back door of the house and went down a hiking trail, according to witnesses.
Christina is also said to have sobbed as she left the house. Tarek was quickly apprehended and asked to down his firearm. Tarek agreed with the police’ demands, claiming he had no intention of self-injury and only desired to hunt rattlesnakes and mountain lions to “get off steam.” According to TMZ, police recovered five firearms from the couple’s house.
Following the frightening event, the El Moussas told People, “We had an unfortunate misunderstanding… and, out of an abundance of caution, the police were called to our house. No one was harmed, and no charges were made.”
More Money, More Complications
According to a source at People, the Flip or Flop stars are essentially distinct. “They appeared to be completely incompatible in several respects,” the insider explained. “She has champagne tastes, whereas he is a beer-from-a-can kind of guy…which was fine for a time, as canned beer was all they could afford… However, the show’s notoriety and financial success gave her the sense that she could finally afford some of the better things in life.” Tarek allegedly became dissatisfied with Christina’s spending and extravagant lifestyle after becoming wealthy: “He simply couldn’t or didn’t want to keep up.”
According to a source, the couple had numerous financial dealings at the time of their split: “They possess multiple residences, fancy cars including a Bentley and an Escalade, large sums of cash, and a variety of other high-ticket items.”
They also owned a yacht, TMZ reports, and their book, Flipping Your Life, was published in March 2017 – three months after they announced their separation. “We intend to continue our professional lives together by remaining professional, performing our jobs properly, being prepared, and working diligently,” the duo explained to People.
Their Workshops Have Drawn Criticism.
Tarek and Christina both served as spokespersons for a real estate seminar on house flipping, but the event did not go over well with all guests, which may have resulted in stress manifesting as marital discord.
According to InTouch, clients in Ohio and Iowa have sought an investigation of the El Moussas’ “Success Path” program. Laura Ingersoll, an Iowa resident, said the seminar “suckered her” out of more than $41,000. According to reports, the Attorney General’s office assisted Ingersoll in recouping all but $3,000 of her damages.
According to an Iowa Attorney General’s office representative, “Following an examination of the company’s contract with the consumer, we determined that the deal violated the Iowa Door-to-Door Sales Act. The firm agreed to provide the consumer with a refund.” Numerous accounts indicate that the couple frequently fails to appear at the seminars, being substituted by enormous posters.
The El Moussas have vehemently denied any wrongdoing. “Over the last three years, more than 50,000 people have attended our lectures, and there have been less than 20 complaints,” the pair claimed in a statement. “People have changed their life and realized their aspirations as a result of our models and strategies.”
Combating Cancer Had a Detrimental Effect on The Marriage.
Tarek was reportedly diagnosed with thyroid cancer in June 2013. The reality personality has been candid about the physical and mental difficulties associated with living with the disease. “Removing your thyroid and replacing it with alternative hormones messes with your system,” he explained to Pop Sugar. “And it was quite difficult to get the correct balance.
Because you develop anxiety, you become extremely exhausted, lethargic, and acquire weight… It took a long time for me to reach the point of feeling better. And that was just in terms of medication, so it was undoubtedly a difficult journey.”
Tarek disclosed in February 2017 that thyroid cancer was not his only battle behind the scenes. “They discovered I had testicular cancer a month later. It was quite challenging for me. My hormones were completely out of whack “he explained to Today. “…three years of agony. When I discovered this, I was devastated. Likewise, Christina was.”
While Tarek has reclaimed his health, he admitted to People in March 2017 that the incident hurt his marriage.
“In a short amount of time, we endured a lifetime’s worth of setbacks,” he explained. “And since we were so busy, we never took the time to be present with one another and discuss what was bothering us.”
Their Family Was Impacted By Their Fertility Issues.
When Tarek was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, he wasn’t the only one dealing with the illness’s physical consequences. He and Christina intended to have a second child but were forced to make significant sacrifices to make it happen. Christina told People that they attempted IVF twice before conceiving their son, Brayden, in August 2015.
One cycle ended in a miscarriage. “I needed to be quite strict,” Christina explained to People. “I was required to spend an entire week in bed. For the next 13 weeks, I was unable to walk or move anything heavier than a gallon of milk… We took every precaution to ensure that this one worked.”
Christina acknowledged that the couple “went through a great deal in a short period.” She also struggled with returning to work four weeks following Brayden’s birth. “It was premature for me,” she explained to People. “I was overcome with emotion. The animosity between Tarek and me was palpable.” She said, “We were no longer able to communicate effectively. It got to the point that we stopped driving together to set.”
They Inverted Their Interpersonal Relationships.
According to a source, the El Moussas’ separation after seven years of marriage was not precipitated by the aforementioned altercation at their house or adultery. Rather than that, insiders allege Christina and Tarek inverted their relationship and began seeing other people months before their official divorce announcement.
According to TMZ, Christina was allegedly having an affair with contractor Gary Anderson, a close acquaintance who was apparently at their home on the day of the domestic incident and served as a witness for police. According to sources, Christina and Gary’s connection became amorous following the incident.
According to insiders, Tarek dated additional women, including the couple’s former nanny. According to TMZ, Tarek “hooked up with 23-year-old Alyssa Logan,” a personal assistant and caretaker for the couple’s children. The tabloid revealed photographs of Tarek and Logan at a Florida Georgia Line concert in October 2016 but stated that Tarek did not mix business and pleasure while he was still dating Christina and Logan worked for the family.
While some accounts portray a rosy picture of the duo reuniting, others reported that these brief reunions were everything but. “Tensions were running high as infidelity allegations flew,” an insider told InTouch (via its Jan. 16, 2017 print edition.) “By that time, there was no way to save the marriage.”
Their Contentment Was a’Sham.’
According to rumors, Tarek and Christina did not get along for some time before their split. According to one source, the marriage was arranged “There were secrets, lies, charges of adultery, spying on one another, and screaming bouts,” he claimed. It was the pinnacle of horrors.” Likewise, a neighbour corroborated, asserting: “They would physically fight in that house before sitting down at their laptops and posting everything lovely for everybody to see. They led a double life. They weren’t simply producing a reality show; they were putting on one.”
According to a source quoted in the Jan. 16, 2017 print edition of InTouch, “They made a valiant effort to maintain appearances, but their deceptions ultimately cost them their lives. They were truly a mess behind closed doors.
Until now, no one has ever seen the real Tarek and Christina.” Additionally, that tabloid said that they supposedly clashed for two years over their house upgrades. “They’d chosen a Spanish-style home and began construction,” a source added. “Then Christina decided she wanted something more modern and blingy, and they ripped everything out and started again.”
They Remained United Throughout The Performance.
According to a network source, HGTV pressed the estranged couple to continue filming the show… or face termination. “Flip Or Flop would never be the same without them, and executives are anxious for them to reconcile to rescue the show. If they are unable to do so, the network wishes to create the impression that they are getting along, at least until their contract expires “According to the insider, InTouch. “They were given an ultimatum: complete your contracts or face legal action [for breach of contract].”
Regardless of the circumstances, the couple continued to collaborate. Indeed, the divorce drama was a rating success for HGTV, averaging 17 million viewers per episode. According to Variety, Season 7 — which took place during the split — was the show’s longest season to date. The exes have even pledged to continue their “home flipping business” and “delivering new episodes of Flip or Flop” indefinitely.
“I’m not going to say it was simple,” Tarek remarked during a Today programme interview (via the New York Daily News). “We enjoy filming; it’s what we do. We’re just battling it out and doing the best we can.”
When The Cameras Stop Rolling, All Bets Are off.
According to a source speaking to Radar Online, the real-life interaction between Tarek and Christina was nothing like what viewers saw on Flip or Flop, particularly when news of their breakup made headlines. Tarek “blames” Christina, according to a source, “for leaking details about their breakup, he believes she wrecked his marriage, and he even appears to believe she is now attempting to sabotage his prospects of receiving a spin-off.”
According to a source, Tarek referred to his ex-wife as a “wh**e” in front of producers, and “some of his terrible behaviour was even captured on video [in footage that was never aired].”
Tarek defended himself on Instagram, writing, “Regardless of the lies, innuendo, salacious gossip, and ‘fake news’ hurled at me by irresponsible media outlets via anonymous sources, I will maintain my focus on what matters most: co-parenting our children and working diligently on our business.”
Tarek Claims That His Divorce Transformed Him Into a ‘Better Guy.’
Two years after announcing their separation, the Flip or Flop stars finalised their divorce on Jan. 22, 2019. (via Entertainment Tonight). As is customary on social media, the celebrities commemorated the event by sharing encouraging quotes on their own Instagram accounts. “I want to express my gratitude to my family, friends, and supporters for their support and encouragement over the last few years,” Christina wrote.
“Officially prepared to go on to the next chapter Life is too short to put up with negativity… #selecthappiness.” According to ET, Tarek also shared some encouraging clichés, stating that the “greatest way to care for others is to first care for yourself!!.”
Tarek said during an appearance on RuPaul’s Drag Race that he “I wasn’t expecting” the breakup of his marriage to Christina, “but you know, I’ve learned a lot from it.
I can honestly say that going through what I did has made me a lot better person. As a result, I would make no changes.” Tarek has also stated that he is open to finding love once more. “As time passes, my eyes are being opened to what is out there, and I believe there is more for me out there, and I believe in love, like, I truly believe in love, so I am hopeful,” he explained.
Christina and Her New Spouse Have a ‘Full House.’
Christina is thriving post-divorce. In December 2018, she married Wheeler Dealers host Ant Anstead. According to People, the couple surprised their children with a “winter wonderland” wedding (Christina and Ant each have two children from their previous marriages). The couple revealed shortly afterwards that they were expecting a baby boy together. “Every child is ecstatic,” Christina told People. “I adore the exciting chaos of a crowded house. I always assumed I’d have two, but now I’ll have five!”
Tarek is said to have gone above and beyond in expressing his support for the blended family. “He texted ‘Congratulations,’ to both me and Ant,” she told Us Weekly following the wedding. “I believe it is a fitting conclusion for all of us, as well as a new beginning for him.” On Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, the exes also shared public good wishes.
Professionally, things appear to be going swimmingly as well. Christina (who has since changed her name to Christina Anstead) landed a Flip or Flop spin-off called Christina on the Coast on HGTV. Anstead told The Hollywood Reporter that the movie will “offer a glimpse into a real-life,” which will involve “attempting to manage it all with children and job.”
They are Still Collaborating.
Although their marriage has ended, Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead continue to work together on Flip or Flop. After their divorce and Christina’s subsequent marriage, the series was renewed. HGTV appears to be betting that the new dynamic would help raise the show’s already-high ratings.
“For years, Tarek and Christina’s fans have followed them through dozens of property flips and supported their journey,” network president Allison Page told The Hollywood Reporter. “We’re excited to see how they continue to operate their property flipping business, co-parent their children, and embark on a new career and personal chapters.”