What Really Happened To The Stars of HGTV’s Flip Or Flop?
Tarek and Christina El Moussa rose to fame with their television show Flip or Flop, a series where the duo would buy, renovate, decorate, and resell homes for a profit.
The couple's seemingly flawless relationship had viewers flocking to the series. Rumors went flying when it was announced that the beloved couple had split. So what really happened between Tarek and Christina El Moussa? Read on to learn the truth.
People Watched Flip Or Flop For More Than The Homes
Flip or Flop is one of HGTV's more popular programs, and it was the latter that kept people coming back to watch more home renovations and flips.
Tarek and Christina El Moussa's charisma and passion made the home renovation show about much more than just flipping houses for a substantial profit.
They Had Real Estate Experience
Both Tarek and Christina El Moussa were savvy business people who knew the real estate industry inside and out.
But more than that, as a happily married couple, their on-screen chemistry looked flawless and easy.
They Met In The Real Estate Industry
Tarek and Christina El Moussa have a wealth of experience in the real estate industry.
Tarek earned his real estate license at the age of 21. He immediately started working in the field, quickly moving up the ranks. In this industry, he also met his future wife and co-host, Christina.
The 2008 Crash
Both Tarek and Christina agree that their connection was instant. They soon decided to enter the housing market together. But it was 2008, an unfortunate time for anyone to be entering the market with its crash.
Tarek and Christina wound up having to move out of their $6,000/month home and into something quite smaller and cheaper -- a $700/month apartment.
They Tied The Knot in 2009
While 2008 was a tough year for many, Tarek and Christina were able to come out on the other side less than a year later.
After working through the difficult times that came hand-in-hand with the crash, the couple decided they didn't want to wait any longer. They got married in 2009.
Taylor Reese El Moussa
Tarek and Christina wanted to have children right away, but they had a bit of trouble. They ended up using In Vitro fertilization, which ultimately worked.
They welcomed a healthy baby girl named Taylor Reese El Moussa in September 2010.
The Couple Wanted More
Tarek and Christina wanted more from their careers and began brainstorming ideas for a reality television show. They landed on the idea of flipping homes.
They decided Tarek was going to explain the entire process via videotape, and they were going to send it to HGTV. Their hope was to get their own program up and running.
HGTV Executives Were On Board
The HGTV executives at the network loved their idea and decided to run with it.
The couple was over the moon, convinced they were about to become huge TV stars with their own series. The first episode of Flip or Flop aired in April 2013.
Flip Or Flop Was An Instant Success
It wasn't just the concept of the show people were falling in love with; it was also the chemistry between Tarek and Christina.
They worked so well as a team; it was hard to imagine any sort of arguing going on behind the camera.
Tarek Found The Properties While Christina Picked Out Decor
Tarek and Christina were in charge of different aspects of the show. Tarek would look for the properties they'd renovate on Flip or Flop, and work on the homes himself when the time came.
It was up to Christina to go out and purchase furniture and other decorations while making sure everything was on schedule.
A Viewer Noticed Something Strange On Tarek's Neck
Everything was going perfectly for the El Moussa couple, and they couldn't have been happier.
Unfortunately, they were about to get a cold dose of reality in the form of a registered nurse named Ryan Reade. After watching one of the Flip or Flop episodes, Reade noticed something of concern on Tarek's neck, so he wrote into the network.
Tarek Listened To The Nurse And His Production Team
The lump in Tarek's neck was a cause for concern for the registered nurse. The HGTV team took the letter seriously and spoke to Tarek and Christina about the nurse's concerns.
After reading Reade's letter and listening to the producers, Tarek decided to see a medical professional.
Their Worst Fears Came True
Tarek admitted to the doctor that he had been having issues with his throat for a few years, but never thought much of it because he was in otherwise good health.
Unfortunately, it was revealed that Tarek had thyroid cancer. After going through some tests, it was confirmed the disease had spread to other parts of his body.
Flip Or Flop Was Put On Hold
Christina did her best to stay positive, caring, and supportive during this hard time in her husband's life, but she was scared.
The Flip or Flop production team decided to put the show on hold so Tarek could rest and Christina could be there for her family.
They Received Good News!
It was a long road of migraines, nausea, and trying to raise a young daughter. The stress of everyday life began to take a toll on the couple.
Then, they got fantastic news. The treatment had worked, and Tarek was clear to begin working once again! Soon after, the El Moussas decided to try for baby number two.
A Lack Of Communication
Once again, they had trouble getting pregnant, having to resort to In Vitro fertilization. It worked but classified Christina as a high-risk pregnancy, and she was unable to work.
In the end, it paid off, and they welcomed a son, Brayden. Unfortunately, what should have been a happy occasion left the couple separated and not communicating.
The Incident
In May 2016, an incident happened that left many fans wondering what was happening with the couple behind the scenes.
That day, a helicopter was circling the Flip or Flop hosts' house with 11 police cruisers parked along the road and an ambulance on the way.
It Was A Misunderstanding
As it turned out, Tarek had gone into his safe, grabbed his gun, and stuck it into his backpack in front of a few people. He then left the house, headed towards a hiking trail, and no one could find him.
In an interview with People, Tarek said that it was all a misunderstanding and he was just protecting himself against wild animals.
Rumors Spread That Tarek Was Having An Affair
TMZ reported that Tarek was spending an awful lot of time with their nanny, Alyssa, even though he and Christina publicly announced that their marriage was back on track.
In response, Christina forbade Tarek from spending time with Alyssa while she was working for them. In response, he fired her so they could spend more time together.
They Separated In 2016
In December 2016, the Flip or Flop couple announced that they were separating but that they weren't getting a formal divorce.
They told Us Weekly that they "had challenges in [their] marriage" and wanted to "re-evaluate the future of [their] marriage." So, now it was a waiting game to see what would happen.
They Filed For Divorce In 2017
Only a month later, in January 2017, the two filed for divorce. At first, they seemed to have an amicable split.
But there was a lot more that went into the split than fans initially thought. It seemed as though a lot went on behind their closed doors.
The Cancer Really Affected Their Marriage
As it turned out, the cancer diagnosis had way more of an effect on their marriage than anyone knew.
Tarek wasn't himself, being irritable, tired, and fluctuating weight due to his hormone medication.
They Stopped Communicating After Their Son's Birth
Christina's pregnancies also had a harsh effect on them, as she was unable to get pregnant easily and had a miscarriage before becoming pregnant with their son.
After their son's birth, she and Tarek were so closed off they were driving separate cars to the Flip or Flop set.
Mo' Money Mo' Problems
According to a few sources, money was also a huge issue between the couple. While Tarek was happy saving, Christina developed a shopping habit her husband didn't appreciate.
A few people also accused the couple of not paying them, such as Jonathan Schmier, a contractor who was supposedly owed $5,000 for every house he found for the couple to flip.
Was It Christina's Fault?
Oftentimes, Tarek and Christina would scream at one another, accusing the other of cheating, keeping secrets, and spying.
Behind the camera, Christina would often change her mind on a project, expecting Tarek to accommodate her ideas even though they were on a timeline.
Or Was It Tarek's Fault?
Some reports stated that Tarek had a short fuse, often yelling at Christina and calling her harsh names in front of people on the set of Flip or Flop.
One claim came out stating that HGTV knew about the couple's marital issues but pressured them to make it seem like nothing was wrong for the sake of the show.
News Articles Were Telling Conflicting Stories
With all of their so-called marital issues coming to light, fans still weren't sure what to believe. There were even sources saying Tarek blamed Christina for everything.
Some said Tarek wanted to keep everything out of the media, and Christina brought it upon herself to leak personal information.
Tarek Found Love Unexpectedly
After only one year of dating Heather Rae Young, Tarek popped the question, asking Young to be his wife while the two were on a boating trip to Catalina Island, California.
The HGTV star dressed in a tuxedo, lined the beach with flower petals and flickering candles, and got down on one knee to pop the question. She said yes!
Christina Re-Married
There were even rumors that Christian was having an affair with a former contractor Gary Anderson.
After the divorce was finalized in 2019, Christina went on to marry a British television personality, Ant Anstead.
Christina And Ant Welcome A Son
In March 2019, Christina announced that she was pregnant with her third child. She and Ant welcomed their son Hudson on September 6, 2019. Ant also has two children from a previous marriage.
Christina told PEOPLE, "All of the kids are so excited. I love all of the fun chaos and a full house. I always thought I would only have two, and now I'll have five!"
Christina And Ant Split A Year Later
Just one year after welcoming their son, Christina announced that she and Ant were separating after two years of marriage.
The split followed a long period of time Ant wasn't able to see his two eldest children due to COVID-19.
