With nasty rumors circulating around her and her estranged husband, Christina El Moussa made a very clear public statement this week.
She didn’t make it with any words, however.
She made it with one stark action.
Christina, of course, is in the middle of a divorce from Tarek El Moussa, her co-host on the popular HGTV series Flip or Flop.
The two announced their separation in December, following the reveal that they got into a major fight back in May that led to Tarek storming away with a gun in hand and police being called to the premises.
(Everything was settled calmly and peacefully at the time.)
About a month after the reality TV stars confirmed they’d been separated for a long time, Tarek filed for divorce.
It was all pretty basic and also pretty amicable.
Tarek and Christina released the usual statements about how their children remained their priority and how they still loved and respected each other.
But numerous outlets reported a few weeks ago that Christina was dating Gary Anderson, the family contractor and someone Tarek knows very well.
From there, a bombshell tabloid story alleged that Tarek had often been verbally abusive of Christina, even joking on set many times that he would rape her.
We can’t verify the accuracy of that serious allegation, but it’s clear that all is not totally well between Tarek and Christina.
Therefore, it seems rather obvious that the latter was sending a message last week when she was spotted in public for the first time with Anderson.
According to In Touch Weekly, which published the first picture of Christina and Anderson arm-in-arm, the couple took a hour-long walk on January 26 through Gary’s neighborhood in Yorba Linda, California.
“They seemed so relaxed and comfortable together – totally in sync,” a witness told the magazine of the pair, who were seen at his house the evening before as well.
“Christina looked adoringly at him. She was beaming!” added the onlooker.
There was definitely a “spark” between El Moussa and Anderson, says this same source.
Despite new claims of major contention between Christina and Tarek, and despite Christina having moved on with a family acquaintance, the stars continue to film new Flip or Flop episodes together.
They are under contract to do so.
Will there be a new season after the current one completes shooting? Will Christina land the spinoff program insiders say she so strongly desires?
The answers to these questions remain unknown.
For now, however, Hollywood Life writes that Tarek feels “shocked and betrayed” by Christina and Gary’s relationship, which may even explain why they’ve decided to flaunt the romance in such a prominent manner.
The gloves appear to be off and things may get uglier before they settle down between the ex-lovers.
“[Christina] likes that Gary is so much more mature than Tarek. It’s a safe relationship, and she’s happy with him,” an HGTV insider tells In Touch, adding:
“Gary’s been there for her while she’s gone through hell with Tarek.”
We get it. That’s important.
Let’s just remember, though, that Tarek and Christina are the parents to a six-year old girl and a one-year old boy.
They will be well-served to remember that those two infants come before anything or anyone else.