It turns out the show must NOT go on after all.
Following several days of damaging headlines regarding the stars of Flip or Flop, HGTV has apparently decided that it will not continue to air new episodes of this once-beloved real estate-themed series.
According to a new E! News report, installments of Flip or Flop that have already filmed or which have been contracted to film will be broadcast as planned throughout 2016 and early 2017.
HOWEVER: “The show will end after that,” an insider confirms.
That’s the current plan, at least, and it’s an understandable one.
Earlier this month, stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina El Moussa announced that they separated back in May.
They had held off on telling the public about their marital status until they were forced to do so by a leaked police report, one that outlined a frightening incident that took place in and around their Orange County home this spring.
Back then, Tarek responded to a fight with Christina by grabbing a gun and heading into the woods.
Christina feared that her husband was going to kill himself and dialed 911.
Many police officers (and a helicopter) then arrived on the scene, coming across a distraught Tarek, who claimed that he had only taken a gun into the wilderness as protection against animals.
The couple then turned over a handful of other (legally registered) firearms to the authorities.
Once this situation went viral, Tarek and Christina issued a statement that broadly acknowledged what happened and also acknowledged their split.
“Like many couples, we have had challenges in our marriage,” the statement read, concluding:
“We had an unfortunate misunderstanding about six months ago and the police were called to our house in an abundance of caution. There was no violence and no charges were filed.
“During the [separation] process, we are committed to our kids and being the best parents we can be.”
The couple is parents to a six-year old daughter and one-year old son.
HGTV then went ahead and issued its own statement, claiming that it would continue to air Flip or Flop as if nothing had happened between Tarek and Christina.
The two were planning to maintain their business relationship, despite this personal setback.
But it has since come out that Tarek dated the family nanny after splitting from Christina; while Christina is still dating the family contractor.
While the network is yet to confirm the E! report that a Flip or Flop end date is basically at hand, it would make sense that these negative headlines related to the show’s stars have simply become too much of a burden.
No one has been accused of molesting a relative, but this situation at least bears some similarity to when Lifetime pulled the plug on 19 Kids and Counting as a result of Josh Duggar’s despicable behavior.
Tarek recently stood up to a cyber-bully who went after Christina.
And the couple is saying all the right things in public.
“We are committed to our kids and being the best parents we can be,” the two told E! News. “We will continue to work through this process civilly and cooperatively, and plan to continue our professional life together.”
Meanwhile, until this latest assertion that the end is near, the network has been nothing but supportive.
“We admire and appreciate Tarek and Christina’s great work on Flip or Flop. When it comes to matters related to their own family, we respect their privacy and honor any decision that works best for them and their children,” the network told E! News in another statement.
“HGTV is currently airing episodes of Flip or Flop and the series will continue production as scheduled.”
That may still be the network stance, too.
Executives may have simply come to the conclusion that it’s not worth planning a new season of the program, considering all this crazy, ongoing drama.
Stay tuned…
… to see if you’ll be able to tune in for more Flip or Flop down the line.