The Real Reason Behind Christina and Tarek El Moussa's Divorce
Spring 2009: Tarek and Christina El Moussa married.
September 2010: The El Moussas welcomed their first child, daughter Taylor Reese.
April 2013: The couple's HGTV show, Flip or Flop, premiered.
August 2015: Their son, Brayden James, was born.
May 2016: Christina and Tarek separated privately, and in December, publicly.
January 2018: Christina and Tarek's divorce was finalized.
May 31, 2018: The first season of Flip or Flop since the split aired.
December 22, 2018: Christina married Ant Anstead and is changing her name to Christina Anstead.
There's a reason so many HGTV series are centered on husband-and-wife duos. Beyond the beautiful transformations, it's the personal moments in between that make home renovations so much fun to watch. But what happens when the marriage is no more? If you're Tarek and Christina El Moussa, the show goes on.
In 2016, the couple separated after seven years of marriage. Still, they've continued working together on Flip or Flop. The first season filmed post-split premiered in May, and it did so well that HGTV ordered another. Season 8 is slated for this spring, as is Christina's new solo show, Christina on the Coast, which will provide a peek at her life with new husband Ant Anstead. We're looking back at the El Moussas' relationship timeline—and what led to their divorce.
How Christina and Tarek Met
It should come as no surprise that the El Moussas' mutual love of real estate is what brought them together in the first place. Having earned his real estate license at the early age of 21, Tarek cut his professional teeth selling mansions, says HGTV. Similarly, Christina (then Christina Meursinge Haack) started working in the industry after college.
"We met at a real estate office, so we started our relationship working together," Christina explained in an old promotional video for their eventual show.
Christina and Tarek Tie the Knot
In spring 2009, 26-year-old Christina and 28-year-old Tarek married during a wedding in Coronado Island, San Diego, California.
Just as the El Moussas' relationship was beginning, though, the effects of the housing bubble burst were spreading across the country. That's when the newlyweds turned to what would become their bread and butter: flipping foreclosed and distressed houses around Orange County, California.
"We're able to work together because we're best friends," Tarek said in the promo. "We love what we do, and we love each other."
Around this time, they also welcomed their first child, a girl named Taylor Reese, in September 2010.
How Christina and Tarek Were Discovered
While some HGTV couples were found on social media or blogs, the El Moussas took matters into their own hands. "We just started flipping houses and we took a long shot and sent a production company an e-mail," Tarek told CountryLiving.com in 2016. "They liked us and said to send a home video. We did, and they liked it. A year-and-a-half later, HGTV picked us up for a pilot."
But their success was almost short-lived. "Midway through season one, the show was almost cancelled because someone high up at HGTV thought it would fail," he continued. "It didn't."
That's an understatement. By 2016, more than 2.5 million people tuned in to watch Flip or Flop, and it's since inspired several spin-offs.
Struggles With Cancer and Infertility
Shortly after the show started, the couple encountered some challenges in their personal lives. Tarek was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and shortly after, testicular cancer, which he kept a secret. He was undergoing radiation as Christina faced her own battle: getting pregnant via in vitro fertilization.
In 2014, Christina miscarried. She was able to get pregnant again, but she "had to be super strict," as she told People in 2015. She couldn't go on walks, work, or lift anything that weighed more than a jug of milk—and that included the couple's young daughter. "We did everything we could to make sure this one worked."
Meanwhile, Tarek had suffered a debilitating back injury, meaning both were bedridden. "[His recovery] was two months of sheer torture," Christina said.
As Tarek revealed recently, his recovery actually took a year and a half. "I lost 50 pounds and was taking large amounts of pain meds to try and help the pain," he explained in an Instagram post. "Truthfully those meds really affected my mental and physical state and changed who I was."
Their baby boy, Brayden James, arrived in August 2015, and Christina went back to work just one month later. "It was too soon for me," she in another interview with People last year. "I was overwhelmed."
"The tension between me and Tarek was high," she continued. "We weren't able to properly communicate anymore. It got to the point where we weren't even driving to set together."
Christina and Tarek Separate
After seven years of marriage, the couple quietly separated in May 2016, but it wasn't until months later, in December, that the split became public—as did an incident that spring involving a gun.
"We had an unfortunate misunderstanding about six months ago and the police were called to our house in an abundance of caution," Christina and Tarek explained in a statement. "There was no violence and no charges were filed."
Apparently, Tarek had left the house and, because he brought his gun along, was thought to be "possibly suicidal," something he has since shut down as false.
"There's mountain lions and bobcats and rattlesnakes and, like, big wildlife back there," he explained on Today. "I went out for a hike to scout some trails. It wasn't even a big deal. I didn't understand. It got really blown out of proportion."
Christina and Tarek Divorce
In January 2017, Tarek officially filed for divorce, and a year later, in January 2018, it was finalized. In April, Christina listed the family's former mansion, and it sold after only one month on the market.
In November 2017, Christina started seeing Ant Anstead, and by December 2018, they were married. Both Christina and Tarek are proud owners of new homes. And of course, the HGTV stars share custody of their kids and continue to work together.
Why Did Christina and Tarek Get a Divorce?
"Like any couple, we had our share of issues," Christina explained to People. "But we went through a lot in a short amount of time."
And according to Tarek, being in the public eye didn't make matters any easier.
"Let's just be honest, it was awful," he said on The Dr. Drew Podcast. "I mean there was more PR about our divorce than any divorce I think I've ever seen. I mean it was wild, on every single magazine, on every news outlet, it was just beyond me."
Still, they bravely stepped back into the spotlight last season.
"It's all new territory," Christina said in the press release. "When our marriage fell apart it was more public than we could have imagined. But we're picking up the pieces and we'll still work together to support our kids."
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