If you’re a fan of the HGTV series Flip or Flop, you’re probably aware that Tarek and Christina El Moussa are getting divorced.
And this isn’t one of those situations where the couple gradually grew apart and mutually decided to call it quits.
No, the El Moussas separated after a frightening altercation during which Tarek brandished a gun and allegedly threatened suicide.
What’s truly bizarre about the situation, however, is the apparent lack of fallout.
The El Moussas are still working together, and they say they see no reason why either of them should leave the show they helped create.
There were plenty of skeptics who doubted that viewers would tune in for a lighthearted house-flipping show hosted by a former couple fresh out of a seriously unhealthy relationship.
Amazingly, however, it looks as though all the recent drama has actually made the show more popular than ever.
“They were convinced when the news broke about their separating that it was going to hurt the show, especially as more details about their fighting and the nature of their relationship came out,” a source close to the situation tells E! News.
“Everyone thought it would be their last season, but ratings and ad sales for the show skyrocketed.”
In a recent interview with Good Morning America, Christina spoke about her ex-husband and co-host in glowing terms:
“We have so much fun on set and we look forward to continuing the show,” Christina said.
“We met at work, so we worked together before we ever started dating.”
Tarek echoed that sentiment while speaking with Today last week:
“We love filming. That’s our job. We’ve been doing it a long time,” he told Joe Fryer.
“We love releasing a good product for our fans and just had to fight through it and do the best we could and I think it turned out great.”
it would make sense that Tarek and Christina would launch a PR tour in hopes of saving the show they both worked so hard to build an audience for.
What’s remarkable is that HGTV seems just as optimistic about the future of the series:
“HGTV is thrilled to bring new chapters, new stories and new talent to complement a series that’s been a big success on its air,” said a spokesperson for the network in a recent statement.
Of course, the sad truth of the situation is that a big reason for the show’s recent viewership boom is the amount of free tabloid publicity the El Moussas have received in recent weeks.
Only time will tell if those newcomers will stick around after the dust has settled.
