There's no doubt there's definitely been a lot of ups and downs for Christina Haack and
Tarek El Moussa since they called it quits in 2016. Here's what you need to know about
the former couple's messy relationship since their split.
It's no secret that things weren't exactly great between Christina Haack and Tarek El
Moussa towards the end of their relationship. Haack opened up about just how bad things
got during a candid February 2017 interview, where she revealed things were so bad they
couldn't be alone together. While it made sense for the happy couple to hop in the same
vehicle together when things were going well, Christina admitted that they would purposefully
drive separately, even if they were going to the same place, even when they were still
married. As she told People,
"We weren't able to properly communicate anymore. It got to the point where we weren't even
driving to set together."
Christina also opened up a little more about what led to their breakup, explaining,
"Like any couple we had our share of issues. But we went through a lot in a short amount
of time."
Christina noted that Tarek's cancer diagnosis and infertility struggles both played a part
in them going their separate ways.
The former couple has been pretty open about their divorce, but Christina Haack admitted
she found everything so difficult after she and Tarek El Moussa initially went their separate
ways that she even likened it to "drowning." The reality star told People for a July 2018
cover story,
"I felt like I was drowning [...] I was doing whatever I could to stay above water and just
get through the day."
Tarek has also gotten candid about the hard time he experienced in the wake of their split.
In August 2019, he told Entertainment Tonight that he "hit rock bottom" amid their very
public divorce.
"I was at the lowest, lowest point of my life, to the point where I could barely get out
of bed."
We all know that Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa continued working together after
their split, as they continued to film new episodes of their HGTV hit, "Flip or Flop."
While this can't have been easy, Tarek admitted during a joint interview in December 2018
with Today,
"We shot the pilot in summer of 2011, series of 2012 — so we've been doing this a really
long time. It's part of who we are and what we do, and for us to just throw it all away
just wasn't worth it."
"And to be honest, I think the worse the house, the more exciting and fun it is, you know?"
Christina also touched on the decision to keep things going in a July 2018 interview
with People, when she said,
"Tarek and I were so tied together on everything: real estate, the show, our children, our house.
It was so stressful, and everyone was worried that it was going to explode."
Clearly, working with an ex wasn't ever going to be smooth sailing.
Neither Tarek El Moussa nor Christina Haack made secrets of their new romances after divorcing.
Christina appeared to move on first and was spotted on dates a few months after she and
Tarek announced they were going their separate ways.
The HGTV star started dating Ant Anstead in October 2018, who she went on to marry and
welcome a child with before splitting in September 2020. Christina proudly flaunted their relationship
on social media and her new show, "Christina on the Coast," praising her man on multiple
occasions. In a since-deleted Instagram post, she gushed,
"Eventually you'll end up where you need to be, with who you're meant to be with, and
doing what you should be doing."
As for Tarek El Moussa, he's not been afraid to put his relationship with "Selling Sunset"
star Heather Rae Young on display. He shared a shot on Instagram of himself and Heather
celebrating his birthday in August 2020, writing,
"I got a second chance at life. I'm not gonna waste it. Love you all."
Right after Christina announced her split from Ant in September 2020, Tarek shared a
snap of himself and Heather to Facebook, writing,
"I'm just so excited about life!! I'm in love, I'm engaged [...] I'm telling you [...] it's
possible to accomplish those things you have been dreaming of!"
"Yes, I regret it, and no, I don't regret it."
Tarek El Moussa's invite to Christina Haack's wedding didn't get lost in the mail, as it
was never sent in the first place. Tarek opened up about how he found out Christina had tied
the knot to Ant Anstead in December 2018, revealing that his former wife didn't even
tell him it was happening. As Tarek told People,
"I was sitting on the couch and then I started getting texts from people showing me a photo
online of her wedding. That's how I found out. [...] I would say it was kind of out
of the blue."
On the flip side, Christina probably shouldn't expect an invite when Tarek marries Heather
Rae Young, after he proposed in July 2020. The couple told Entertainment Tonight in October
2020 they had no plans to have any exes attend their big day, also suggesting the "Selling
Sunset" and "Flip or Flop" cameras won't be invited. As Tarek said,
"Small, less distractions, more intimate, better conversations with the people around
us. You know, we just think smaller is better."
Though Christina Haack's ex-husbands Tarek El Moussa and Ant Anstead haven't spoken publicly
about one another very much, Tarek revealed to People in January 2019,
"Of course I ask my kids about things they do, and what's going on, and they always say
good things about [Ant]. So as a father, it's good to know that there's hopefully a good
man in my kids' lives besides me."
Tarek has extended that goodwill to his children's half-sibling, Christina and Ant's young son,
Hudson. In an interview with InTouch Weekly, Tarek confirmed,
"I did meet him a few times [...] I see him at soccer games and a couple of times at drop-offs.
He’s a cute little guy!"
As for how involved Christina is with Tarek's fiancé, Heather Rae Young, it looks like
those two are actually on good terms, as evidenced by a sweet Mother's Day post in which Christina
showed off a sweet bouquet of flowers gifted to her from the "Selling Sunset" star.
Christina Haack didn't hold back from letting her true feelings out on her "Flip or Flop"
spin-off show, "Christina on the Coast," and even let the cameras roll as she said goodbye
to the family home she once shared with Tarek El Moussa and their kids.
In a June 2019 episode of the HGTV series, Christina got very candid about how she felt
about selling the house, admitting she was surprised when it was purchased within a week
of going on sale. She then got sentimental about the property, saying,
"While I'm super excited to just close this chapter of my life after the divorce, it's
also bittersweet. There's just so many memories wrapped up in it."
Christina also shared how her daughter, Taylor, wanted to take a final look around the home,
which was where she grew up and spent much of her childhood, which was an emotional moment
for both of them. Christina revealed,
"While it is going to be an amazing fresh start for us all, it's also very emotional."
"She did cry, and it was heartbreaking for me as a mom."
Despite all the sources and intense media speculation that surrounded their public split,
Tarek El Moussa maintained that he and Christina Haack actually have a "positive relationship."
Revealing his truth to InTouch in February 2020, Tarek explained,
"We would never do anything to harm the kids, and we have a really positive relationship
because we understand that’s how it has to be for many different reasons — all the
way from business to the kids [...] So, we get along really well now."
But don't think the exes are spending a lot of downtime together. Tarek also spoke about
his relationship with Christina to The List in June 2021, admitting,
"Outside of work, we don't really hang out. We don't talk, other than [to] communicate
about the kids."
Christina Haack opened up about how she and Tarek El Moussa continued to co-parent together,
and it sounds like the two were willing to go the extra mile to make it work during such
a difficult time. Christina revealed she actually went round to El Moussa's home to help him
homeschool their kids for the first few days of uncertainty. Speaking to Us Weekly in April
2020, she explained,
"We're just making sure that we're on the same page [...] We just, like, make sure we're
helpful with each other. [...] We all just are in it for the kids and whatever's best
for them, so that's just how we make it work."
Christina also revealed how the things she'd been through had changed her, speculating
that going through what she described as a "public divorce" had actually made her "more
patient" as a person. There's certainly no doubt a whole lot of patience was probably
needed during those homeschooling days.
In July 2021, things reportedly hit fever pitch on the set of "Flip or Flop." TMZ alleged,
"Tarek immediately lost his cool and went on a verbal tirade directed toward Christina
[...] which allegedly included him comparing her to his fiancee, Heather Rae Young, and
saying Heather is hotter and richer than Christina."
A source then told People following the apparent outburst,
"They did get into a disagreement. Tarek lashed out and he's super remorseful [...] They're
exes who share a history and children and a workplace, but outside of coparenting, they're
not friends."
Tarek has also been accused of being jealous of his former wife, both when she moved on
with Ant Anstead and when she landed her own "Flip of Flop" spin-off, "Christina on the
Coast." A source claimed to InTouch there was a lot of competition between the exes,
suggesting,
"[They] can't stand each other [...] it's really beginning to show."
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