'Flip or Flop's Christina El Moussa on Tarek El Moussa split: Communication stopped, we didn't even drive to houses together

Flip or Flop star Christina El Moussa is shedding some light on why her marriage to Tarek El Moussa crumbled and ended in divorce.


"We went through a lot in a short amount of time," Christina told People in an interview almost one year after separating from Tarek, although the pair didn't publicly announce their split until December 2016.

The last several years have been tough for Christina and Tarek since Flip or Flop launched in 2013 on HGTV. Tarek underwent radiation treatment for thyroid cancer that year, while Christina reportedly began a grueling struggle to get pregnant via in vitro fertilization and suffered a miscarriage in 2014.

Once the couple welcomed their son Brayden, now 18 months, Christina went back to work four weeks after giving birth due to business pressures.

"It was too soon for me," Christina told People. "I was overwhelmed. The tension between me and Tarek was high."


The relationship went downhill from there, as Christina revealed, "We weren't able to properly communicate anymore. It got to the point where we weren't even driving to set together."

In a statement Christina and Tarek released late last year when announcing their decision to call it quits, they cited an "unfortunate misunderstanding" from May 2016 as one of the reasons.

At that time, police were called to the family's home because Tarek allegedly fled the house in a fit of rage with a gun. Police were warned about "a possibly suicidal male," but Tarek insisted he was just blowing off some steam and took a gun with him as a form of protection against rattlesnakes and other dangers. No charges were filed and both individuals have insisted there was no violence that day.

"Like any couple, we had our share of issues," Christina admitted, clarifying however that their marital problems sparked long before that incident.

Due to the buildup of years of a strained romance, Christina confessed to People she felt relief once they confirmed their split in December.


"I think the separation process begins long before people actually separate," Christina said. "So by the time we officially did, I felt like a weight was lifted off me."

Tarek officially filed for divorce on January 9 amid rumors of infidelity and drama on the set of Flip or Flop, but the couple has maintained a desire to continue working together and raise their children amicably in a healthy environment.

"Tarek and I don't discuss each other's personal lives," said Christina, who was recently photographed with her rumored boyfriend Gary Anderson, a contractor who once worked for her family.

"It is what it is and we are going through a divorce and eventually we will be dating other people. I'm happy for him and whatever steps he takes in his life and I just hope he's happy."

Christina, in fact, insisted it's "invigorating" to know she's "starting over" and creating her "own destiny" right now with solo projects in addition to her show with Tarek, Flip or Flop.


Brayden and their daughter Taylor, 6, also remain the couple's focus.

"We're just normal, nice people who, you know, want to be the best parents and coworkers that we can be," Christina said during a Tuesday appearance on Good Morning America.

"Our kids are amazing... and transitioning well. Tarek and I are friends and we have a lot of support from our family. The kids are doing great."






About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski