Tarek El Moussa & Christina Haack: Cancer, a Gun, and the HGTV Divorce That Wouldn't End
He battled two cancers. She struggled with fertility. Police were called when he left with a gun. Then they had to keep filming their HGTV show together for six more years.
Key Facts
What Happened
Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack were HGTV's golden couple on Flip or Flop, turning house-flipping into appointment television. Behind the camera, their marriage was crumbling under extraordinary pressures. In 2013, Tarek was diagnosed with both thyroid and testicular cancer. Christina was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and suffered miscarriages. The health crises strained a relationship already under the pressure of reality TV fame.
The breaking point came in May 2016 when Christina called police after Tarek left their home with a gun. Tarek was found on a nearby hiking trail and told officers he had taken the gun for protection against wildlife. He denied being suicidal. However, the incident, combined with what Tarek later described as an addiction to prescription anabolic testosterone following his cancer treatment, made the marriage untenable. They separated in December 2016.
Their divorce was finalized in January 2018, but the truly unusual aspect was what came next: they continued filming Flip or Flop together for four more years, until the show ended in 2022. Working alongside an ex-spouse on camera, pretending to have a functional partnership while navigating new relationships, was an extraordinary professional challenge. Both described the experience as difficult but manageable for the sake of their children and careers.
In a surreal twist, HGTV later greenlit The Flip Off, a competition show pitting Tarek (now married to Heather Rae Young) against Christina (who married and divorced Ant Anstead, then married and divorced Josh Hall). The show premiered in 2024, making the El Moussa-Haack saga possibly the longest-running divorce narrative in television history.
Legal Breakdown: Working with Your Ex
Health Crises and Their Impact on Marriage
Serious illness places enormous strain on marriages. Studies show that cancer diagnosis increases divorce risk by 21%, with the risk highest when the wife is the patient. The El Moussas faced multiple simultaneous health crises, including cancer, fertility issues, and prescription drug dependency, creating compounding pressure on the relationship.
Shared Business Obligations After Divorce
When divorcing spouses share a business, the court may order them to continue working together or buy out one party's interest. The El Moussas' HGTV contracts required continued collaboration. If you share a business with your spouse, your divorce agreement should address business operations, decision-making, and eventual exit strategies.
Police Reports and Divorce Proceedings
The 2016 gun incident created a police report that could be used in custody proceedings. Any police contact during a marriage becomes part of the public record and can affect custody determinations. Even if no charges are filed, the record exists and opposing counsel may reference it.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Health crises during marriage require professional support beyond medical care. Couples therapy and individual therapy can help prevent the marriage from becoming a casualty of illness.
- →If you share a business or professional obligations with your spouse, address them explicitly in your divorce agreement. Do not assume things will work themselves out.
- →Police reports from domestic incidents can surface in divorce proceedings. Be aware that any law enforcement contact creates a record.
- →Working with an ex-spouse is possible but requires strong boundaries, separate counsel, and ideally a mediator or therapist to help navigate conflicts.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.